North Carolina Century Farms : 100 years of continuous agricultural heritage

jL North Carolina ~

Century farmS

100 Years of Continuous Agricultural Heritage

Dear Friend,

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture, along with Taylor Publishing Company,
would like to extend to you our thanks and appreciation for your support in the publication of
The History of North Carolina Century Farms.

We know you'll receive many hours of pleasure as you read about the men and women
who've helped shape America's "living" past, and that this book will become a treasured family
heirloom — a cherished legacy for your children and grandchildren to enjoy as well.

Perhaps you would like to have an additional copy for your family, for gift-giving or as a
keepsake. A limited number of books are still available and can be ordered by completing
and sending us the order form below. Orders will be taken on a first-come, first-serve basis,
so don't delay! Mail your order along with your payment for additional copies today!!!

Century Farms of North Carolina

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Digitized by the Internet Archive

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N.C. DOCUMENTS

CLEARINGHOUSE

DEC 5 1989

N.C. STATE LIBRARY
RALEIGH

This book was made possible through
the generous assistance of:

Wachovia

CP&L

Southern Bell Carolina Power & Light Company

A BELLSOUTH Company

■■■ United

I Telephone

■■■ system Planters Bank

Carolina Telephone Peace of Mind. Plain and Simple.

Farm Credit Banks of Columbia

North Carolina
CENTURY FARMS

100 Years of Continuous
Agricultural Heritage

North Carolina Department of Agriculture

Compiled by: Libby Gorman

Mary Hunter Martin

Edited by: Deborah Ellison
Jearlean Woody

Cover Design: Michael Reep

Publishing Consultant: Susan McDonald

Copyright © 1989 by the North Carolina

Department of Agriculture
All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America
by Taylor Publishing Company,
Dallas, Texas.

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 89-61 145

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JAMES A G RAH AM
COMMISSIONER

]Bepsu:iment of Agrtmihtrr

September 1989

Dear Registered Century Farm Owner:

You have in your hands the only history in North Carolina of
family-owned farms dating 100 years or more. Information about these
Century Farms is part of our heritage. It was too important to lose. The
North Carolina Department of Agriculture, therefore, has preserved the
history in book form as told by the registered Century Farm families.

As Commissioner of Agriculture, I am pleased to present every
registered Century Farm owner with a copy of the book. As you turn the
pages, you will get a sense of the heritage of the state's agriculture
through a short history which was compiled and written by James F. Devine,
editor of the NCDA publication, Agricultural Review .

In addition, there is a complete list, as of October 1988, of every
registered Century Farm owner. It is followed by family-written histories
of Century Farms whose owners wanted histories included. With many of the
histories are family photographs that will bring back memories.

The book was published by private corporation donation. We thank
Philip Morris, U.S.A. for their major corporate sponsorship of this
publication. Other contributors to the history are the Wachovia Bank and
Trust Company, N.A. , Carolina Power and Light Company, Duke Power,
Southern Bell, Planters National Bank, Carolina Telephone and Telegraph
Company, and the Farm Credit Banks of Columbia. Without support of the
corporations involved, publication would not have been possible.

I thank June Brotherton and the staff of the Public Affairs Division
who administer the Century Farm program. For two years, they have been
working on the project. Also thanks to Susan McDonald, who represented
Taylor Publishing Company, the publisher.

I hope this book will be a family heirloom to you, and that it will
not be the last history of Century Farms published in North Carolina. Our
family farms are too important to lose.

With all good wishes.

diaUy,

7

Acknowledgements

Agriculture in North Carolina Before the Civil War by Cornelius O. Cathey, State Department of Archives and History,
Raleigh, 1966.

Atlas of North Carolina by Richard E. Lonsdale, UNC Press, Copyright © 1967.

Indians in North Carolina by Stanley A. South, State Department of Archives and History, Raleigh, 1965.

North Carolina Department of Agriculture, How It Began, published by the NCDA.

North Carolina Illustrated 1524-1984 by H.G. Jones, Copyright © 1983, The North Carolina Society.

The Relation of North Carolina State College to the State Department of Agriculture by Eugene Clyde Brooks, State
College Record, Volume 23, Number 3, October 1924.

Illustrations

By arrangement with:

North Carolina Department of Agriculture, Division of Public Affairs.

North Carolina Collection, University of North Carolina Library at Chapel Hill.

North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, Division of Archives and History.

North Carolina State University, Department of Agricultural Communications, Division of Visual Communications.

AGRICULTURAL HISTORY OF
NORTH CAROLINA

Compiled and written by James F. Devine, Editor of the Agricultural Review,
North Carolina Department of Agriculture, April 1989.

When the history of agriculture in North Carolina is considered, it usually conjures
visions of colonists breaking ground for the first wheat crop, vast shasta fields of ripe
cotton being picked by hand or patches of brightleaf, green and gold.

That gets only a B-plus for the history student because he forgot that agriculture in
what is now the Tar Heel State predates white men by two-thousand years.

NATIVE FARMERS

It began with Indians creating civilization. It started when they stopped depending
totally on nomadic hunting and began to like the looks of one spot. It was when they
decided it was easier to plant grain than to forage and easier to raise livestock than to
chase it.

Believe it or not, what those Indians discovered in a past so dim that it can be seen
only in stone tool fragments, weapons and bones, had a direct bearing on North Caro-
lina's farm economy from colonial day-one to North Carolina 1989.

Corn, or maize as the red man called it, was introduced to those early settlers from
Europe. And tobacco, the crop that forged the socioeconomic culture of this modern
state, was unknown to the newcomers. In other words, corn and tobacco were greater
new-world finds than the hoped-for gold and silver.

Of course, the colonists brought their own brand of farming from the old country.
They introduced crops and livestock as well as adopted those of their new home.

Small grains, fruits and vegetables came with them. Sheep, cattle, hogs, horses and
chickens were not native but adapted well to the foreign soil. Still, some fundamental
Indian agronomic know-how gave a boost to European methods which had changed
little since the dawn of time. It was a fish and a seed, a fish and a seed method. From
those native Americans, colonists learned the art of fertilization.

NO MECHANIZATION

In the real sense, European agriculture had progressed very little from ancient
times when the first immigrants began to establish permanent settlements on the
North American mainland. The Renaissance had only begun with a great deal of
hangover from the Middle Ages.

Machine farming was virtually unheard of. Ox and plow were about as close to
mechanization as man had come or would come for many decades. Agriculture was
the job of almost 100 percent of the populace and was highly dependent on human

Gristmill at Yates Pond near Raleigh. Built in the 18th
century, it was typical of other mills in the state.

Dozens of plank roads were built
to help farmers in the 1850s, but
failed due to cost and upkeep.

9

Farmers out of the mud. At least they were on this 1898 macadam road in Mecklenburg
County.

labor. Without the machine, it is not hard to understand how slavery was so easily
introduced into the colonies. And later, even with the advent of certain machines,
slavery did not decline. It increased. Some believed the cotton gin was a major factor
in that increase because it created more demand for cotton.

The newcomers continued to plant, cultivate and harvest just as their fathers had
done for centuries. They had the same problems as modern growers but lacked the
tools to fight drought, pest and disease. It was classic plant-and-pray farming.

Most of the so-called non-farmers of the time were agribusiness people. They were
blacksmiths, horse traders and stable operators. Even the general store owners sold
farm goods. And it's a pretty good bet, most of that crowd were sundown farmers.

Eating was the number one concern of the new Americans. Trade was the hoped-for
future, but for the moment, man had to feed his family and farming was about the
only way to do it.

DIVERSIFICATION UNKNOWN

Crops differed little from those raised by today's Tar Heel producers. Irish or white
potatoes and sweet potatoes were native to the New World. The settlers quickly added
them to their menu of imported carrots, onions, beets, squash, cabbage, lettuce and
so on to offer a balanced diet though no one knew much about diets back then.

Field crops of small grains, corn, peas and beans grew well in North Carolina's soil;
so well, in fact, peas and beans provided the colony with major items of commerce.

Tobacco and cotton were later to become the North Carolina's top farm income
producers. Soybeans came much later and rice and sugar cane were dropped but with
these additions and subtractions, crops had remained much like those of the settlers.

Corn quickly became the most important food crop. It grew universally across the
state and fed both man and animal. It was described by John Lawson, who wrote the
first history of North Carolina, as "the most useful grain in the world."

The grain was planted in hills, a method learned from the Indians. And oddly
enough, the size of the crop was measured in hills planted rather than in acres. This
practice was continued until the War Between the States.

Hoe and hand labor were the usual planting method. Rows were not used as plant-
ing was done in fields that still had stumps and roots. Cultivation was done with hand
tools. Often a fish was put into each hill for fertilizer.

Small grains were not widely planted in the Coastal Plain but they found their way
into the Piedmont along with those settling the area. Corn, however, remained the
primary grain.

Rice was grown in the coastal regions but never in the quantities produced in South
Carolina and Georgia. What was grown was high quality and in demand as seed from
the other seaboard colonies.

American Husbandry, a 1 775 London publication, was considered an accurate crit-
ic of American agriculture. It said about North Carolina fruit production: "Fruit in
none of the colonies is in greater plenty than in North Carolina, or finer flavour; they
have every sort that has hitherto been mentioned in this work; peaches as in the cen-
tral coloines, are so plentiful, that the major part of the crop goes to the hogs."

Unfortunately, orchards were often in a sad shape since there were no markets for
surplus figs, cherries, apricots, peaches, pears, plums, pecans, quinces, damsons and
nectarines. Making brandy and drying were the only ways of preserving them.

Speaking of spirits, winemaking was big business in Tarheelia until its prohibition.
At one time, North Carolina was said to be the largest winemaking state in the coun-
try. In recent years, native muscadines along with the European vinifera have made
a comeback. Wine is produced from vinefera at the Biltmore Estate near Asheville,
while Duplin Wine Cellars at Rose Hill and its affiliates make wine from muscadines.
Several other wineries also operate in the state.

Wool and linen were the interests of English textile manufacturers. Their need for
cotton was low. Still, cotton was grown for home use. It was later that cotton became
king.

TOBACCO KING

Commercially, tobacco today is the state's leading crop. It was then. Its production,
though, was limited to counties along the Virginia line and near the Albemarle Sound.
It immediately became a major export crop. Demand for the leaf became so great, it
was sometimes used as currency.

High as an elephant's ear was the corn in the 1950s.

Bulk people rather than bulk
curing in 1 926.

Even though the crop was firmly rooted in the colony's economic base, North Caro-
lina ranked a poor third behind Virginia and Maryland in tobacco production. Yet,
most of the colony's plantations produced it. The largest concentration of slaves and
the biggest farms were in tobacco growing country.

It was believed that the leaf grew best on recently cleared, vegetable-decay soil. The
same fields were planted again and again until they were exhausted. No attempts were
made to preserve fertility or prevent erosion as the work force continued to clear new
fields. Such practices necessitated plantations be large. Plantation owners believed
they should own fifty acres of land for each worker for profitable tobacco production.

New land was the simple solution to depleted land. Tobacco planters sold their old
farms to corn and wheat growers and moved toward the Piedmont. The drift away
from the Coastal Plain was going strong as the Revolutionary War approached.

Livestock was the top moneymaker for early farmers in the state. They realized
more profit from cattle and hogs than from any other agricultural source. Large areas
of unsettled land and open range practice did not require livestock producers to fence
stock. Branding, however, was needed too for determining animal ownership.

Sweets are a want of any society, affluent or otherwise. Beekeeping and honey pro-
duction were practiced widely throughout the colony. One writer observed in 1 773:
"Prodigious quantities of honey are found here of which they make excellent spirits,
and mead as good as Malaga sack."

11

PROGRESS CAME SLOWLY

Yet, with all the land offered its new tenants, progress came hard for colonial North
Carolina. Even though farmers grew quality crops, their access to markets was limit-
ed. There were no good ports and internal transportation was lacking. Emphasis was
put on growing variety for feeding the family and local population rather than money
crops. Farms devoted to producing cash crops such as tobacco and cotton were few
compared to Virginia and South Carolina.

If a house could only talk what tales it might tell; a
reminder of things that were in eastern North Car-
olina.

Memories of ol'-time stubbornness and aching backs.

During the war for independence from Great Britain, food supplies for the popula-
tion were usually adequate. There was some want of food in those areas of military
activity. In fact, as the war was coming to an end, North Carolina was a main source
of livestock and livestock products for both the Continental and British armies.

Commerce was disrupted, however, as a result of the British naval blockade for the
small number of North Carolina farmers producing for the export trade. So effective
was it that it was almost impossible to deliver those commodities to market.

Imports were also cut off. Sugar, rum and molasses were hard to come by, so hard
that rum shortages brought on liquor stills and winemaking. Selling surplus grain and
fruit as spirits became big business in North Carolina for several decades.

More land went into cotton production during the war due to the inability to import
textile goods. It was used mostly in the home and did not become an important export
until Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin in 1 792. By that time, the state had recov-
ered to pre-war trade levels but the dollar value of export items were well below those
of Virginia and South Carolina.

Not much changed for OF North State agriculture following the revolution. It was
not until the late 1 830s that railroad building was encouraged and that step was a step
in the right direction.

SEEDS OF AGRICULTURAL REFORM

There were from the beginning advocates of agricultural reform. Many of these pro-
gressives saw the state as backward and unresponsive to new ideas. The problems
were seated in lack of education for the common people. Without that factor, they
were deeply resentful of any tax increases or breaks from the idea that, "If it was good
enough for grandpa, it's good enough for me." It was not until 1840 that tax-
supported public schools were established.

It is ironic that a people almost totally dependent on the industry of agriculture
were so resistant to new farming methods which would have improved their lot.

George W. Jefferies, one of the state's earliest agricultural reformists wrote in 1 820:
"Our present, is a land-killing system, which must be altered for the better; for if pre-
served in, it must ultimately issue in want, misery and depopulation."

Of course, there were many seers and thinkers in Tarheelia. Unfortunately, the
depleted soil and lack of new ground forced many of them to leave during the west-
ward migration. This deprived the state of some of its finest minds and young people
from all parts of society. By the 1820s, the situation was epidemic. From 1790 to
1816, Archibald D. Murphey, an agricultural reformist, estimated 200,000 people
headed west, sometimes abandoning their farms for lack of buyers. Despite efforts to
keep people in North Carolina, the losses continued until the 1850s.

12

The "Agricultural Revolution," as it is sometimes called, came to America in the
1780s. Its effects were felt in North Carolina in spite of the barricades to progress. It
was conceived by practical English agriculturists and its methods were adopted by a
small number of North Carolina farmers. This would prove to be a major factor in
North Carolina's rise as a modern, progressive state.

Those early North Carolinians who accepted the idea that there might be a better
way to farm were usually not well informed in scientific agriculture. Rather, they were
practical men who believed that farming should be handled more business-like. For
the first time, they kept records of soil preparation, seed selection, time of planting,
cultivation, and costs.

Success bred success and the movement caught on. Word spread by mouth, corre-
spondence and newspaper. As a result, the number of reform-minded growers
increased but the majority continued the "pa did it, so I'll do it" method.

Still, the interest in reform had set a new cadence with more and more farmers
marching to it but the pace remained slow until after the Civil War.

Dr. Clarence Poe, editor of the Progressive Farmer
magazine, at age 18. Poe was an advocate of improved
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES COME INTO BEING agriculture and farm life.

Societies supportive of agriculture came into being shortly after the start of the
nineteenth century. The Cape Fear Agricultural Society was founded in 1 8 1 at Wil-
mington. Others followed with the Rowan County society one of the most active. It
required each member to pledge "to turn his attention (as much as the situation will
allow) to the study of agriculture, and on all occasions to impart to the society any
improvements or discoveries he may make; also, to use every exertion in his power
to procure correct models of the most approved farming implements in use in any
part of the country." The Rowan society sponsored the first agricultural fair in the
state in Salisbury in 1821.

Success of the societies fostered interest and from the interest, a state-wide organi-
zation evolved in 1818, the North Carolina Agricultural Society. Its primary aim was
to promote farm reform.

Decline of the societies set in, unfortunately, in the late 1820s. It is believed poor
farm prices and lack of markets were contributing factors. But interest in agricultural
reform renewed in the years just before the Civil War. Improvements in transporta-
tion, communication and markets were some of the causes.

13

Side-wheeler, thought to
be the Cotton Plant on the
Cape Fear River in 1851.

King Cotton has made a comeback as at least a duke.

WAR FARM PRODUCTION

Cotton and tobacco showed sharp increases in production in the two decades pre-
ceding the Civil War. Cotton had been in some decline since 1 825 but new agronomic
practices seemed to cause the resurgence in the fiber. Flue-curing leaf was a factor in
the tobacco upswing. Demand was good for the high quality, rich flavored leaf that
took on the color of gold when subjected to the forced curing process.

Self-sufficiency on the farm was the goal of many farmers and to do so meant that
grain had to be produced. Corn could be grown successfully in every part of the state
unlike several other cereals. Corn filled that bill because it was an ideal food for both
man and beast.

Wheat also became widespread, though heaviest production was in the Piedmont.
Rice was grown only in the coastal areas and never became a major industry. Fruit
had only slight commercial importance though apple growers took the crop seriously
and won several awards during the 1850s. Vegetables had not reached great heights
as money crops, but the quality and quantity improved during the sweep of agricul-
tural reform. There seemed to be ample supplies for home use. Sweet potatoes were
grown on a fairly large scale and were the most popular vegetable in North Carolina.
Irish (white) potatoes were produced, too, but on a much smaller scale. Peanuts,
which are now a leading money crop, were just beginning to prove themselves as a
commercial commodity.

Animal agriculture was big business during Colonial times. Surpluses were pro-
duced primarily in cattle and swine. So much so, they were sold in Northern markets
and the West Indies. By 1 820 circumstances had reversed so that the state was no lon-
ger self-sufficient in livestock. The reasons were many. There was less range land due
to widespread dirt farming; little attention had been paid to selective breeding; shel-
ter and winter feeding were not considered important; farmers neglected to produce
enough livestock for on-farm use and livestock management had not changed since
the Colonial period.

On the eve of the Civil War, 70 percent of farmers owned less than 1 00 acres. Thirty
percent owned 500 acres, and they were the slave owners. Unlike the movies, in which
everybody had slaves, only the rich minority were owners. This is an indication of the
great socio-economic gap that existed between the classes in the state. It tells history
students of North Carolina's leading industry, agriculture, that farm reform, educa-
tion and transportation were essential to the healthy development of a productive
Tarheelia.

THE NEED

The Civil War — and its destruction and "reconstruction" — devastated the econ-
omy of North Carolina. Agriculture, the mainstay of the state's slightly more than one
million people, was severely stricken. Many farm families lost sons and fathers as well
as farm property and livestock. The crops that were produced were poor and prices
were low. After the war a system of farm tenancy developed which resulted in smaller
farms with decreased efficiency.

In an effort to combat these and other problems, farmers joined organizations such
as the Patrons of Husbandry (the Grange) and the Farmers' Alliance. While these

14

organizations did give farmers a united voice for sounding their grievances, they did
not solve many of the existing problems. To the majority of farmers, the most feasible
solution seemed to be the establishment of an agricultural department as part of the
state government.

As early as 1 860 Governor John E. Ellis had urged the General Assembly to estab-
lish a Board of Agriculture, but the request was ignored by legislators who were con-
cerned primarily with the oncoming war.

In 1 868 the foundation for the establishment of the North Carolina Department of
Agriculture was laid when North Carolinans approved the state constitution by popu-
lar vote. The constitution provided: "There shall be established in the office of the
Secretary of State a Bureau of Statistics, Agriculture, and Immigration under such
regulations as the General Assembly may provide." But this agency did not provide
for the real needs of agriculture, and thus failed to receive the favor of farmers who
still demanded an independent department.

THE BEGINNING

Satisfaction came, however, in 1 875 when the Constitutional Convention amend-
ed the provision to read: "The General Assembly shall establish a Department of
Agriculture, Immigration, and Statistics under such regulations as may best promote
the agricultural interests of the state and shall enact laws for the adequate protection
and encouragement of sheep husbandry."

In March, 1 877, a bill to establish such a department was introduced in the General
Assembly and passed.

The event was heralded by The Observer, March 1 1 , 1 877, as follows: "The Depart-
ment of Agriculture. The bill to establish this department has become law. This we
believe to be the only instance in the history of the state in which the farmers, as a
body, have come before the legislature for aid and protection, and to the credit of the
legislature it may be said that they promptly gave them all that was asked for, though
not exactly in the shape proposed by them."

The original law enacted by the General Assembly provided for a seven-member
Board of Agriculture to supervise the department's activities. The board was to be
composed of the Governor, ex-officio chairman; the State Geologist; the Master of
the State Grange; the president of the State Agricultural Society; the president of the
State University at Chapel Hill, and two agriculturists. One of the board's first tasks
was to select a commissioner to act as administrative head of the department.

Chosen was Colonel Leonidas LaFayette Polk of Anson County who had been a
moving spirit in the establishment of the NCDA. Polk, an outstanding agricultural
leader and spokesman, (and later founder of the Progressive Farmer) was an obvious
choice. For a salary of $2,000 a year, Polk was charged to carry out the following

Rice fields on the Orton Plantation in 1890. The
mansion can be seen in the background.

15

Washington Duke at his first tobacco factory in
1820 in Durham.

Royster Guano Company of Tarboro in 1895.
Fertilizer use increased due to education and
agricultural associations.

duties: 1 ) to find a means of improving sheep husbandry and curb high mortality rates
caused by dogs; 2) to seek the causes of diseases among domestic animals, to quaran-
tine sick stock, and to regulate transportation of all animals; 3) to seek to check insect
ravages; 4) to foster new crops suited to various soils of the state; 5) to collect statistics
on fences in North Carolina, with the object of altering the system in use; 6) to work
with the U.S. Fish Commission in the protection and propagation of fish; 7) to send
a report to the General Assembly each session; 8) to seek cooperation of other states
on such matters as obstruction of fish in interstate waters; and 9) to make rules regu-
lating the sale of feeds and fertilizers.

In addition, the Department of Agriculture was to establish a chemical laboratory
at the University of North Carolina for testing fertilizers and to work with the Geolog-
ical Survey in studying and analyzing the State's natural resources.

The young department saw a number of changes in staff organization and Board of
Agriculture representation. One of the most significant board changes occurred in
1883 when members were first chosen from each congressional district to represent
the state's major agricultural interests. The last "non-farmer" was removed from the
board in 1889, when a board member, not the governor, became chairman.

In 1 899, the legislature provided for election of a commissioner by the people of the
state, not by the board. The first commissioner elected was Samuel L. Patterson of
Caldwell County. Patterson had served earlier by board appointment.

A PLACE TO CALL HOME

The first official home of the Department of Agriculture was the second story of the
Briggs Building on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh. With the office staff
came the entire State Museum and Geological Survey. Other department employees
were located at the Agricultural Experiment Station in Chapel Hill and in other office
buildings in Raleigh.

In 1881 the Board of Agriculture decided to bring all the divisions of the depart-
ment together and bought the National Hotel property for $ 1 3,000. The hotel was on
Edenton Street, the present site of the Agriculture Building. The building was later
enlarged and remained the home of the department until 1 923 when the Edenton and
Halifax streets parts of the building were torn down and the present neo-classic build-
ing erected. A five-story annex was added to the main building in 1 954 to provide new
quarters for the Natural History Museum and space for laboratories and offices.

DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS: WHY AND WHEN

Fertilizer Analysis

Much deception and fraud were being practiced in the sale of fertilizers at the time
the department was established. Dr. Albert Ledoux, the Department of Agriculture's
first chemist, said that of the 1 08 brands of fertilizer sold in North Carolina in 1 876,
some were "miserable stuff, others down-right swindles." He reported that one brand
had been found to contain as much as 60 percent sand. It was natural then that one
of the first responsibilities of the newly created Department of Agriculture would be
fertilizer inspection and analysis.

The original law provided that there should be an annual privilege tax of $500 for
each brand sold. For several years, this tax was the sole source of revenue for all the
programs of the department. However, the privilege tax was later contested and the
courts ruled it unconstitutional. In its place, an inspection fee was levied by the legis-
lature of 1 89 1 , with the stipulation that the revenue could be used only to support the
fertilizer control program.

Experiment Station

The actual analysis of fertilizers was to be carried out by the Experiment Station in
Chapel Hill. In addition, the Experiment Station was directed to conduct experi-
ments on the nutrition and growth of plants, to ascertain which fertilizers were best
suited to the crops of the state and if other crops could be grown on its soils, and to
conduct any other investigations the department might propose.

Created in 1 877 by the same act that created the Department of Agriculture, the sta-
tion was the first in the South and the second in the nation.

The initial movement to set up field testing stations began in 1 885 when the Gener-
al Assembly directed the Board of Agriculture to secure prices on lands and machine-
ry. The board obtained 35 acres on the north side of Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, and
the job of clearing land, laying out test plots, and constructing buildings began.

The station was transferred from the NCDA to the newly created N.C. College of
Agricultural and Mechanic Arts in 1889. The Hatch Act, which had provided funds
of $15,000 to each state for agricultural research, had specified that the money be

16

An 1890 view of the Agricultural
and Mechanical College for the
Colored Race in Greensboro is now
the Agricultural and Technical
State University.

directed to the land grant college. In establishing the A&M College, the General
Assembly had provided that the college would receive all land-grant benefits.

While the Department of Agriculture maintained its association with the station,
it shifted its effort to establishing test farms in various locations across the state. The
purpose was to experiment with different crop-fertilizer-soil combinations to find the
most suitable for certain locations. The first two research stations were in Edgecombe
and Robeson counties.

State Museum

As a result of legislation of 1 85 1 , a State Geologist was appointed by the Governor
to retain samples of the minerals of the State. This collection, known as the Cabinet
of Minerals, was housed on the third floor of the capitol prior to the Civil War. It
formed the nucleus of the State Museum.

After the museum was transferred to the Department of Agriculture, the legislature
expanded its responsibilities to include the illustration of North Carolina's agricul-
tural and other resources and its natural history.

Much of the department's time and interest in the early days was directed toward
immigration. The goal was to encourage the settling of good citizens in the rural sec-
tions of the state and to advertise to the world the advantages of the soil, natural
resources, and climate of the state. The department staff produced a number of cred-
itable exhibits of resources and products of the state in Vienna, 1873; Atlanta, 1881;
Boston, 1883; New Orleans, 1884; Raleigh, 1884; Chicago, 1893; Paris, 1900-1907;
Charleston, 1901; St. Louis, 1904; Boston, 1906; and Jamestown, 1907. Many of
these exhibits became permanent displays in the State Museum.

At the state exposition of 1884, counties
displayed their industrial and agricultural
progress. Tobacco dominated this Durham
County exhibit.

Entomology

Among the original duties given to the department were "investigations relative to
the ravages of insects." However, until the late 1 880s, department reports declared
a "remarkable exemption of the crops of the State" from insect pests.

The situation changed considerably around 1 900 when pests, such as the San Jose
Scale in orchards, began to move in. The San Jose Scale was called the "worst enemy
of the deciduous fruits."

The department responded by hiring an entomologist to work in conjunction with
the alredy existing Commission for the Control of Crop Pests. A program of inspec-
tion was begun, including inspection of the state's nurseries. Nurseries found to have
no pest problems were certified as pest free.

Another task of the entomologist's office was the establishment of an insect collec-
tion. The collection documented the specimens found in the state and served as a use-
ful tool in identifying pests for the public.

The office was often successful in prescribing remedies to combat pest problems as
illustrated in this letter from a North Carolina apple grower:

I had more matured apples than I have had in one season for the past ten years ... All trees sprayed
are as green, (or) nearly as green, now (October 14, 1 90 1 ) as they were in summer ... I sprayed one
side of a large fall apple tree. The side sprayed is green today, while the other side has no leaves. To
be brief, all trees sprayed are full of leaves, while those not sprayed are destitute ... I am very well
pleased with my spraying, and next year will spray again more thoroughly than I did the past spring.
The honey and bee program began in 1916 with authority from the legislature to
conduct investigations to promote the improvement of the honey bee industry and
especially investigations relating to diseases of bees.

it

An early view of the State College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts in Raleigh, now known as North Carolina
State University.

Farmers Institutes

In 1 887, the General Assembly had instructed the Board of Agriculture to "cooper-
ate and aid in the formation of Farmers' Institutes in all the counties of the State."
These institutes were an early attempt at educating the farmer in areas such as con-
serving the nutrients of the soil, diversification of crops, and modern methods of
dairying.

To carry out the institutes, the board was to send the Commissioner of Agriculture
and other agricultural representatives to every county in the state at least once every
two years.

In 1 906 the first institutes for women were begun, with the purpose of upgrading
farm conditions and farm life. North Carolina was the first southern state to offer
such a program for women.

While the institutes that were held proved to be quite effective, the agricultural
leaders who were charged to conduct them found it difficult to meet the heavy travel
schedule. The most successful organization therefore developed from individuals on
the local level who banded together to form ongoing educational programs.

These institutes were the forerunners of the Agricultural Extension program in the
state.

N.C. College of Agricultural and Mechanic Arts

The N.C. College of Agricultural and Mechanic Arts was an offspring of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture. In 1 887 the board began seeking donations for the establishment
of an industrial college and looking for sites. A 3'/2-acre lot in the northwest part of
Raleigh was purchased for $2, 1 00.

"Brad's Drink" created by Calab Bradham became "Pepsi-
Cola." Bradham's assistant, R.F. Butler, stands in front of the
pharmacy in New Bern where the soft drink was invented.

Subsequently, R. Stanhope Pullen donated a sixty-acre site near a proposed park,
and the gift was gratefully accepted.

The college opened in 1889 with eighty-five students. All the funds for building,
equipment, and maintenance were furnished by the board.

In 1 892, the General Assembly separated the college from the Department of Agri-
culture and made it a distinct corporation.

Veterinary

Even though the original act establishing the Department of Agriculture called for
animal health protection, it was 1898 before a State Veterinarian was appointed.
Chosen for the position was Dr. Cooper Curtice of Columbia Veterinary College. Dr.
Curtice launched an investigation of the cattle tick and was able to show that the tick
was a carrier of Texas fever.

Not only was this the first step toward eradication of the fever, but it was also the
first time that anyone had proven that parasites are capable of transmitting disease
in mammals. Curtice's work set the pattern for similar investigations into human dis-
eases.

Another threat to livestock at the time the veterinary program was begun was hog
cholera, which had first been reported in the state in 1859. By 1877, it was killing one
out of every nine hogs each year, and many years were to pass before control efforts
would be successful.

In the early days, the State Veterinarian was not only concerned with animal pro-
tection but also with promotion of livestock. The idea was that more livestock would
improve soil fertility and better livestock would increast profit. Eventually this
responsibility was given to a separate division in the department.

In 1 925 the department was charged with the supervision of slaughtering and meat
packing establishments in the state. This service was not compulsory at that time, but
it did enable any establishiment that chose to use it, to sell anywhere within the state
without further inspection by a city or town.

Food Protection

Under the first elected commissioner, Samuel L. Patterson, the department was
given more regulatory duties. One of these was the administration of the Pure Food
Law, passed by the General Assembly in 1 899. The purpose of this law was to prevent
the adulteration and misbranding of food and drink for both humans and animals.

G.G. Viverette of Halifax County brought his tobacco
to a Rocky Mount warehouse in the state's first
automobile-drawn trailer in 1913.

North Carolina ranks number 2 nationally in cu-
cumbers for pickling.

The food program was placed under the Chemistry Division with B.W. Kilgore as
State Chemist. In the beginning Dr. Kilgore sought to study existing conditions and
to educate manufacturers so they could comply with the law. In 1 900 a survey across
the state revealed that over 50 percent of all canned vegetables were adulterated with
harmful preservatives. With the enforcement of the Pure Food Law, however, the
percentage of adulteration decreased to 1 7 percent in four years.

Cattle and stock feeds were also inspected and found to be of a low grade. A few
even contained poisonous substances. The first analyses showed a large amount of
worthless material used in the stock feeds as a filler. In reference to the success of the
stock feed program, Commissioner Patterson said, "It has already worked beneficent
results, for shameful frauds had been practiced upon our brute friends, who had no
voice to protest against them."

Gasoline and Oil Inspection

The first laws relating to petroleum products were passed in 1903, at which time
heating oil, "kerosene," was being used primarily for lighting. Some of this product
contained such large amounts of sulphur that it was found to be a health hazard as well
as causing deterioration of various fabrics and other materials.

By 1 9 1 7 the department was also given the responsibility of enforcing the Gasoline
Law. This law applied to gasoline and other liquids used for heating or power pur-
poses. According to an official of the department at that time, the law was "enforced
with considerable difficulty." At the time the program began, many companies were
trying to sell low grades for the same price as higher grades.

Seed Testing

The testing of seeds for germination and purity actually began with the early work
of the Experiment Station. However, it was 1 909 before a seed law was passed and a
program established for seed analysis.

To assist in the seed program, Miss O.I. Tillman, a seed specialist, was sent to
Raleigh by the United States Department of Agriculture. Every firm selling seeds in
the state was required to pay a license of $25.00 to defray the costs of inspection. The
law specified which weed seeds could not be sold in seed mixtures.

Of the first seed samples collected, 70 percent of the dealers were found to be han-
dling seeds below state standards. By 1914 the test service had gained respect and
farmers were voluntarily sending in their seeds for purity and germination tests.

A guiding force in the operation of the seed laboratory was Miss Suzie D. Allen who
was laboratory supervisor for forty years. During her tenure, the seed testing program
was removed from the Division of Botany and became a separate division.

Markets

The marketing service began in 1 9 1 3 as the "Division of Cooperative Marketing."
Its early work involved compiling lists of dealers of farm products and finding mar-
kets for North Carolina sweet potatoes, butter, and apples. A market news service was
begun for cotton and cottonseed.

A few years later the division begun putting much time into helping local farmers
organize into cooperative marketing organizations.

A very popular project of the Markets Division in the early 1 900s was the publica-
tion of the Farmers' Market Bulletin, later called the Market News. This publication
included articles on the marketing conditions of certain crops, as well as agricultural
items for sale.

By 1 924 Market News reported that the division had eight branches: livestock and
poultry; fruits and vegetables; farm crops; statistical reports; market news service;
rural organization; farm financing through cooperative banks; and a state warehouse
system.

Information Office

The need for communication between the Department of Agriculture and the agri-
cultural public it served was evident from the beginning. In 1 877, Commissioner Polk
started a weekly farm paper called The Farmer and Mechanic.

This paper eventually became independent and was replaced by The Bulletin of the
North Carolina Department of Agriculture. The Biennial Report of 1891 referred to
the Bulletin as "the mouthpiece of the Board which goes to the homes of the people."
The first purpose of the Bulletin was to inform farmers of fertilizer analyses so they
could judge their money value.

Soon, however, the Bulletin expanded into all areas of agricultural production, and
it became necessary to hire a bulletin superintendent. In 1914 an information office

20

vas set up to coordinate a news service for the Department of Agriculture and the
State Agricultural and Engineering College. This arrangement ended in 1925 when
;he agricultural extension service, which had been a joint program of the department
ind the college, was moved entirely to the college.

In that same year the Publications Division began to publish the Agricultural
Review a semi-monthly paper which is still serving farmers and agri-business interests
today.

State Warehouse System

At the beginning of World War I, cotton was difficult to sell and could not be used
as collateral for borrowing. There were few warehouses to store it in until market
prices improved. The limited number that did exist were in large cities and inaccessi-
ble to most farmers.

To protect the financial interests of cotton growers, the legislature of 1 9 1 9 passed
a law creating a state warehouse system. The system established a guarantee fund so
that a warehouse receipt would be universally accepted as collateral.

The Warehouse Act was later amended to benefit other commodities including
grain and sweet potatoes.

Currently, warehouses operate under the federal system.

Hand-tied leaf is sold at a 1926 tobacco auction in Wilson.

Crop Statistics

Even though the original title of the department included "statistics," the intent
was mainly to collect statistics relating to farm fences. Commissioner Polk did try
sending forms to farmers, asking them to list their taxable assets and their crop pro-
duction, but most forms were never returned and the few that came in were incom-
plete.

By 1 887, it was apparent to Commissioner John Robinson that a statistical service
was needed. In the Biennial Report he wrote:
"The means of acquiring statistical information are very inadequate. Such infor-
mation is one of the necessities of the times. There are frequent calls upon this
office for such statistics, the applicants thinking that we had the information for
distribution, and they were warranted in expecting to find correct information
in regard to agricultural products in this office."

In 1916, Frank Parker, a representative of the Federal Crop Reporting Service
began statistical work in cooperation with the State Department of Agriculture.

Three years later he moved his office to the Agriculture Building and became the
director of the Agricultural Statistics Division.

The Farm Census was begun on a voluntary basis in 1 9 1 8 and became law in 1 92 1 .

Home cooking the North Carolina staple, pork
barbecue! The on-farm value of the hog business is
$438 million.

Small grains are an economic necessity to North Car-
olina.

21

A home economics class in the early
days of the discipline.

Dairy Products

Because the wholesomeness of dairy products was of vital importance to each citi-
zen of the state, a law was passed in 1921 giving the Department of Agriculture
authority to inspect dairy products and plants. The Food and Oil Division was desig-
nated to carry out this law by checking plants for sanitation and products for purity.
The division was also made responsible for checking the butterfat tests used in the
purchase of milk and cream from producers by creameries and factories.

Between 1928 and 1930, a separate dairy division was created to assume these
activities. It was 1 947, however, before the division gained the real authority it need-
ed to provide stability to the dairy industry and to insure a wholesome milk supply
for consumers. In that year, the Board of Agriculture adopted statewide standards for
milk and other dairy products. This was an important step in eliminating local trade
barriers and making production and processing more uniform.

Wheat threshing and hay baling
on the Fred Oliver farm near
Charlotte. The combine under
the shed did both chores.

Weight and Measures Inspection

The department's involvement with the inspection of weighing and measuring
devices began with the enactment of the Uniform Weights and Measures Law in
1927. It was felt at that time that the regulations of weights and measures should be
directly under an elected official. The 1 927 law provided that the inspection program
be funded by fees collected from those inspected, but opposition led to an amendment
in 1931 that provided for the inspection work to be supported by an appropriation
from the General Assembly. The change made it possible to conduct inspections
more than once a year, in order to more efficiently eliminate fraudulent practices.

Among the early responsibilities of this division were the approval of all weighing
and measuring devices as to type and operation before they could be distributed for
use; regulation of the sale of ice; regulation of the sale and distribution of coal, coke,
and charcoal; insuring that all scales were placed in plain view of the customer, and

If you believe you've seen everything, take a look at the pig races at the North Carolina State Robin Watson, an NCDA regional agronomist,
Fair. pulls a soil sample for free nutrient need testing.

N.C. State Fair

The first State Fair, held in November, 1853, was sponsored by the State Agricul-
tural Society. The site was about 1 blocks east of the Capitol in Raleigh. In 1873 the
fair was moved to a 53-acre lot on Hillsboro Road, near the present Raleigh Little
Theatre. The Society poured approximately $50,000 into the development of the
grounds.

In all, the Agricultural Society sponsored the State Fair for 73 years, with interrup-
tions during the Civil War and Reconstruction period. Among the most famous
guests of the fair during the Society's sponsorship were Theodore Roosevelt in 1 905
and William Jennings Bryan in 1907.

By 1 924, the Society asked for aid from the State and the City of Raleigh. A State
Fair Board was appointed, and in a few years the fair was moved to its present site on
the west side of Raleigh.

In 1 930 the State Fair was first placed under the Department's administration. For
a few years the department leased out the operation commercially, but in 1937, Com-
missioner Kerr Scott decided that the management should be directly under the
department. Dr. J.S. Dorton was chosen as manager, and the fair first began to show
profits.

Soil Testing

The Department of Agriculture demonstrated an interest in soils from its earliest
years. Much of the soil work was conducted by the office of the State Chemist. This
office worked with the United States Bureau of Soils in surveying the soils of each
county and collecting samples for analysis. In addition to chemical analysis, the office
set up plot tests on each important soil type in the state. These plots demonstrated to
the people of the state the benefits of various types of fertilizers and crop rotation.

23

It was 1 938, however, before the General Assembly passed a law establishing a Soil
Testing Division in the department. This division was set up to accept soil samples
from growers and homeowners across the state for analysis and to furnish them with
information on their fertilizer needs. Much time had to be spent in educating the pub-
lic on the availability of the service. In the first fiscal year, 70,000 different tests were
made on approximately 6,500 soil samples.

Food Distribution

Modem tobacco cultivation.

In 1944, the department began a cooperative effort with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture to receive and distribute surplus agricultural commodities. Such com-
modities as evaporated milk, potatoes, beets, eggs, and grapefruit juice were sent to
public schools for supplementing meals. Not only did the school benefit by being able
to serve low cost meals, but the program helped hold agricultural prices at or above
levels acceptable to producers.

In a few years, the distribution of the products was expanded to other recipients
such as camps, child care centers, and charitable institutions.

Pesticides

In the 1 940s, pesticides began to appear in large numbers and in broader effective-
ness. Added to the agricultural insecticides and fungicides already on the market were
various weed and grass poisons, defoliating chemicals, chemicals to control the pre-
mature falling of fruits, and new and more powerful insect and rodent poisons. It was
obvious that these products needed special attention to assure reasonable effective-
ness, safety, and fair-dealing.

The General Assembly responded to these needs by passing the Insecticide, Fungi-
cide, and Rodenticide Act of 1947. Under this law, the Department of Agriculture
was charged with the registration of all pesticide brands to prevent misbranding and
adulteration. Examinations were made of pesticide labels to insure that the percent-
age of each active ingredient and total inert matter were indicated and that other label
statements were acceptable.

In 1953 the department began licensing contractors and pilots for the aerial appli-
cation of pesticides.

Structural Pest Control

Public concern for the unethical practices of some structural pest control operators
in the state led to the enactment of the N.C. Structural Pest Control Law by the 1 955
General Assembly. The intention of the law was to protect consumers and the pest

(Above) A hand planter eliminates much of tobacco's

backbreaking work.

(Right) First cotton mill in North Carolina, built by Michael

Schency in 1813 in Lincolnton.

TOA' !M|

1.1. IN /VOKTH '

^7

24

control industry since the fraudulent practices of a few operators could reflect harm-
fully on the many honest operators in business.

The law created a policy-making board called the Structural Pest Control Commis-
sion and gave the Department of Agriculture responsibility for the inspection of the
work of structural pest control operations.

In 1967 the law was revised, abolishing the commission and creating a Structural
Pest Control Division in the department with the responsibility of administering the
law under the Commissioner of Agriculture. A structural pest control committee was
set up to make necessary rules and regulations and to hold hearings relating to viola-
tors of the law.

State Farmers Market

Prior to 1955, fruit and vegetable dealers were scattered all across Raleigh. To
improve this situation, a large market facility was established on a 1 8.5-acre site near
U.S. 1 in Raleigh. The market, which was at that time privately owned, provided
room for both individual farmers and wholesalers.

In 1958, the farmers' portion of the market was taken over by the Department of
Agriculture, State College, and the Department of Conservation and Development.
In 1961, the NCDA purchased the facility to be run as a state market.

Within the first year, the market was operating entirely on its own receipts and had
paid the first annual installment on the purchase price, as well as paying for extensive
repairs and some additions.

The market, located at a central point between the mountains and the coast, prom-
ised farmers a profitable outlet for their produce and consumers fresh produce year
around.

State Farms

Until 1 974 a number of farms were owned and operated by the departments of
Human Resources and Correction. The legislature then transferred the farm lands to
the Department of Agriculture for operation until the best use of the land could be
ascertained.

The purpose of the farms is twofold: to provide a good supply of food, economically
produced, for residents of institutions and to provide facilities and animals for
research conducted by North Carolina State University.

There are currently five large farms and seven small farms. Most of the food pro- . . _ . , _ ...

duced goes to state mental health centers. J " mes A Graham North Carolina s present

° Commissioner oj Agriculture.

NCDA TODAY

During its first 100 years of service, the Department of Agriculture has continued
to add new services and to improve and expand existing ones. Major program changes
include the following:

When the Experiment Station was moved to N.C. State University, the department
began to refer to the outlying test stations as research stations. Today there are fifteen
agricultural research stations in the state, covering nearly every climate, soil, and pop-
ulation center important to North Carolina farming. The stations are a cooperative
effort on the part of the N.C. Department of Agriculture, the N.C. Experiment Station
at N.C. State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The NCDA owns nine stations and provides administrative support. The other six
stations are owned by the Experiment Station, which provides project leaders to con-
duct research. The USDA supplies some funds and project leaders.

The Museum of Natural History has increased its service to the public and to the
scientific community, not only through new and updated exhibits, but also with more
intensive work in research and education. An additional responsibility is the admin-
istration of the Maritime Museum in Beaufort.

The Markets Division has expanded its advisory services to provide assistance in
areas such as harvesting, handling, sorting, packing, storing, transporting and pricing
of products. The division is constantly seeking new markets, both domestic and for-
eign, for the state's farm products. In addition, the division is the only authorized
agency in the state for reporting official market price information and for determin-
ing and certifying the official grade on farm products.

Three farmers' markets operated by the NCDA in Raleigh, Asheville and Charlotte
offer customers fresh produce direct from farmers and warehouse space for food
wholesalers. Promotion plays a leading role in marketing. Two major programs are
Flavors of Carolina, a nationwide activity that lets buyers "taste-test" North Carolina
food products, and Goodness Grows in North Carolina, a method by which Tar Heel
food products are identified for consumers.

25

i

What goes around, comes around. True of wind
power in 1890 and 99 years later. This windmill was

at Beaufort.

J
t

German, Dutch, Polish, Russian and Italian farmers
establish themselves at Castle Hayne, Van Eden, St.
Helena and Terra Ceia from 1914 to 1920. Hard
work and grape production were part of the European

culture.

The Animal Health Division has been authorized to inspect livestock markets to
see that animals have received proper tests and vaccinations and to insure that sick
animals are not offered for sale. Nine animal disease diagnostic laboratories have
been set up across the state to serve farmers, practicing veterinarians, animal health
personnel, and pet owners. In addition, the inspection of meat and poultry facilities
has been made compulsory. The department inspects all plants that ship within the
state and performs some inspections for interstate shipment under a cooperative
arrangement with the federal government.

The department has continued to monitor the manufacture of animal feeds and pet
foods, with greater emphasis in recent years being put on those products to which
drugs have been added. Forage feeds are also tested for nutrition.

The seed testing program has become nationally recognized for its interest in
refined germination techniques and for its field staff of inspectors trained for field
analysis. The laboratory tests more samples and more kinds of seeds than most labo-
ratories in the nation.

Endophyte testing is employed to protect livestock from the fungus that causes sev-
eral problems including tail rot and abortion. Fertilizers are tested to detect contami-
nation that could injure plants. Sewage sludge and animal wastes are also tested for
nutrient content and contaminants.

The services of the soil testing laboratory have been expanded to include plant anal-
ysis and nematode testing. These three services now compose the Agronomic Services
Division. In addition to providing these three services to all the citizens of North Car-
olina, the division carries out methodology research and educational programs. Pos-
sible groundwater contamination has gotten the attention of the NCDA. In concert
with the state departments of Natural Resources and Community Development and
Health Services, the three agencies are exploring a testing program.

Broader responsibility in controlling pesticides was given to the department under
the Pesticide Law of 1971. The NCDA licenses pesticide applicators, dealers, and
consultants and makes inspections and takes samples at all levels of pesticide produc-
tion, sales and use. The 1971 law also provided for a seven-member Pesticide Board
which acts as a policy-making body.

From the initiation of the entomology program, the duties and responsibilities of
the department have expanded to include the total area of plant protection. Programs
dealing with insects, diseases, and weeds have become more sophisticated and
encompass such tools as integrating pest management and biological agents for the
control of pests. Such agents include insect parasites which are reared at the pest con-
trol laboratory for release on other pest insects. The NCDA is currently developing
regulations for biochemical use.

The Rural Rehabilitation Corporation was transferred to the NCDA in 1971. The
corporation finances rural undertakings and enterprises through low interest loans.

The department has also been designated to collect and hold assessments for agri-
cultural promotional organizations and foundations.

As a result of the internal reorganization of the Department of Agriculture in 1 972,
three administrative offices were established: Agribusiness, Fiscal Management, and
Consumer Services. With two exceptions, all department programs were placed
under these offices. The exceptions include the Office of Public Affairs, which pro-
vides informational services for all programs, and the Environmental Affairs Office
which was added in 1974.

The State Board of Agriculture is still the policy-making body of the department.
The board adopts regulations under the powers conferred upon it by the General
Assembly. There are ten members of the board, with the Commissioner of Agricul-
ture serving as ex-officio chairman.

ESTABLISHMENT OF NCDA/NCSU SPURS CHANGE

Change was rapid following the establishment of the North Carolina Department
of Agriculture. The industrial revolution was underway and that put a new slant on
farming.

Mechanization was encouraged though the real effect of it would not be realized
until after the turn of the century.

Action in agriculture might well have been the slogan for the late 1 9th Century. The
dual emergence of the NCDA and what is now North Carolina State University were
probably the most remarkable events that have ever happened in North Carolina
farming. Both were mandates of the Legislature.

When the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts opened in
1 899, agriculture had little scientific background. But as that background developed,
and the NCDA and the college (now N.C. State University) evolved, the two agencies
began to duplicate activities. To avoid doing the same job, they agreed on March 10,
1911 to cooperate.

26

The Commissioner of Agriculture and the president of the college along with their
respective committees passed a resolution that said: "All the scientific experimental
work of the two institutions will hereafter be consolidated with one experiment sta-
tion, under a director and a vice director, and with the director's office at the Col-
lege." The General Assembly made it law.

Evolution of the two agencies continued with consolidations of responsibilities.
Some went to the NCSU and some to the NCDA. Education and extension went to
the (now) university. Marketing came to be the job of the department of agriculture,
along with the other duties mentioned earlier. Today, the two institutions jointly
operate agricultural research and cooperate in many other areas even though their
charges are clearly defined.

Home plate had been put in place. Agriculture in North Carolina had a base; gov-
ernmental and educational. But who would have predicted in those days the enor-
mous impact the dual institutions would have on the economy in the coming century.

The Civil War was over and with it the abolition of slavery. These two events
brought on radical economic change throughout the Confederacy and North Carolina
was no exception. An almost feudal system of tenant farming arose to fill the labor
vacuum; a system that remained well into the 20th Century.

MACHINES TAKE TO THE LAND

Large landholders provided acreage and dwellings for tenants who farmed on
shares with their landlords. As time went on, however, many of the tenants were able
to buy their own farms and a new system of small farms developed. During this period
between the war and 1 900, remarkable breakthroughs in technology, such as electric
lights, the telephone and the automobile were signaling even more radical change.

Horseless carriages as they were called probably had the most immediate effect on
agriculture. Many an engineer of the day saw its first cousin, the tractor, doing the
work of animals. But it was a little slower era and things took time.

Tractors began to show up in the early 1 900s. They were largely experimental, driv-
en by both steam and internal combustion engines. Obviously, only the well-to-do
farmers could afford such luxury and many of them were skeptical. But during the
1920s the iron-wheeled monsters could be seen once in a while.

Still, animal power, particularly the mule, was the farm machine well into the
1950s. No doubt, the Depression of the 1930s and World War II threw a body block
on farm technology yet that same war gave agriculture a quantum leap when it ended.
From it emerged chemicals, tools, machines, and buildings in shapes, sizes and ability
undreamed of. Even better, they were available and affordable. The post-war boom
had not bypassed rural North Carolina.

Even as the war had held up civilian progress temporarily, the Great Depression
had a similar effect on the economy. Following the years of 1 94 1 through 1 945, pro-
duction capacity in all areas burst upon the nation like a ruptured dam. During the
depression, forces were set in motion that would play possibly an even greater role in
agriculture. Those forces were called federal farm programs.

NEW DEAL CHANGES FACE OF AGRICULTURE

The three affecting North Carolina the most were tobacco, peanuts and cotton.
During the New Deal era, President Franklin D. Roosevelt realized that supply was
killing demand for certain farm commodities. Tobacco, peanuts and cotton were
mainstays, yet over production was price-killing. As a result, acreage allotments were
granted to producers. In the 1 960s these allotments were modified to include pound-
age restrictions.

For North Carolina, it turned an economic corner unequaled. Farmers began to
show a profit and the tobacco and peanut programs became the most successful farm
programs before or since.

King cotton began a decline in the state in the 1 950s and tobacco became the new
king. Tobacco farmers became so good at their work that it was necessary in 1 964 to
put poundage restrictions on production. It was about this time that the surgeon gen-
eral decided cigarette smoking was harmful to health. In the following years, the
debate on the health question raged and cigarette consumption did decline. Still, in
the mid 1 970s, farmers grossed $ 1 billion from the leaf. Tobacco remains the leading
field crop and North Carolina leads the nation in its production.

Cotton, though down, was not out and with the advent of the federal-state and far-
mer boll weevil eradication program, North Carolina is a ranking cotton producer.

Peanuts are another high and reliable source of farm income with an annual farm
gross of $ 13 1 million. The state ranks fourth in peanut production.

Garrett and Company winery in Halifax County, out
of business because prohibition in North Carolina
became law in 1908.

Mountain beef cattle as they used to be.

27

State Agriculture building as it appeared in the mid-
1950s.

|

Tar Heel cornucopia.

s

Other boomers for the later half of the 20th Century are livestock and poultry. Poul-
try is another $ 1 billion industry with livestock approaching three-quarters of a bil-
lion dollars.

TODAY'S DIVERSIFICATION

Crop listings for Tarheelia go on and on to the extent North Carolina is the third
most diversified agricultural state in the union. It leads the other 49 in flue-cured
tobacco, total tobacco (includes burley), turkeys and sweet potatoes. It is second in
cucumbers for pickles, third in burley tobacco and poultry. Peanuts rank fourth; hogs,
eighth and corn, soybeans and small grains are big crops.

Colonial times saw fruits and vegetables as big crops with no markets. They are still
big crops but now there are markets. In fact, aggressive marketing by the NCDA in
cooperation with commodity groups, farmers, food dealers, NCSU and various state
and federal agencies have given North Carolina agriculture unprecedented outlets
nationally and internationally for virtually all of its produce.

Agribusiness has equally prospered in North Carolina. Production, processing,
packaging and marketing companies have flourished. Many are based here. These
include livestock, poultry, grain, tobacco, vegetable, seafood and winemaking firms.
The list is expected to grow as the result of demonstrated success.

Of course, all was not without planned effort and some setback. Little more than
100 years ago, Colonel Leonidas LaFayette Polk set the stage and James Allen Gra-
ham, the present commissioner of agriculture had added a few acts of his own. When
he took office in 1 964, farm profit, crop diversification, marketing, animal health and
plant health took center stage. Farm profit depended on the latter four. Hog cholera
would soon become a major problem in the 1970s but Jim Graham, his veterinary
staff, the state swine industry and the U.S. Department of Agriculture teamed and
defeated it. The state is now hog cholera-free. Brucellosis and TB in cattle got similar
treatment. During his administration, the poultry industry has been virtually free of
serious disease and he is now waging war on swine pseudorabies.

Departmental marketing programs have moved from doing the job to looking for
jobs to do. In the last few years, NCDA marketing specialists have become product-
wise to every commodity grown, packaged or processed in the state. No farm item is
too small or too large to receive the attention of the marketing division.

Experts in foreign and domestic trade focus on livestock to asparagus along with
grains, fruits, vegetables, poultry, fiber and tobacco. Commodities are sold by placing
buyer and seller together through trade shows, foreign sales trips, domestic promo-
tions, taste-test receptions and direct contracts.

Two of the more recent programs are "Flavors of Carolina," buyer-seller meetings
held across the U.S., and "Goodness Grows in North Carolina," an official designa-
tion of North Carolina agricultural products.

The system works to the tune of export sales at $ 1 billion a year and a state agricul-
tural industry worth up to $ 16 billion from farm to dinner table.

Diversification played only a minor role in the state's farm scene during most of the
20th century, but in the last 20 years, it has received top billing. Seafood, including
catfish, trout, bass, eel, crawfish and shellfish farming are on or are nearly on the
menu. Other new or experimental crops are Christmas trees, ginseng, ornamentals,
sunflowers, kenaf, herbs, grapes and exotic animals.

These crops and others on the drawing board keep marketing viable. They also
require the support troops of the NCDA's other divisions, NCSU, the USDA, agribu-
siness and the all-important farmers. Success and continued success is almost assured
because of cooperation by these agencies.

It must be understood that North Carolina is not a one-crop state. Often the charge
is leveled that tobacco is the alpha and omega of Tar Heel agriculture. That is not so.
Tobacco is the largest crop but of the $4 billion gross farm income, three-fourths of
that comes from virtually everything but tobacco. The gap should continue to widen
as more new crops are introduced and markets increase for existing commodities.

Beginning at any point in the history of North Carolina's 2,500 year civilization, it
would be impossible to ignore agriculture. Granted, the 01' North State has made
uncountable contributions to uncountable disciplines, professions, trades and arts.
All civilizations begin with agriculture but with many, it moves way down the list eco-
nomically. Yet, agriculture through all time, has remained North Carolina's number
one industry. By taking care of man's primal need, food, all else became possible.

Two thousand five-hundred years ago civilization began in what is now North Car-
olina. That was the day the gatherers became growers. That was the day the Indian put
down literal and figurative roots making one place his home. Five hundred years later
foreigners from the east dug in with an agrarian economy ... an economy that remains
the bedrock industry of North Carolina today.

28

MANUFACTURED B Y

^5 GRANI//LLE COUNTY

Farmer's Alliance

TOM CCO MANUFACTURING (5

OXF QHD M E-

THE ONLY GENUINE

ail/ance tub Ann a

IN THE WORLD

! TAILOR COTTON PRESS,

MANUFACTURED BY

Seaboard, Northampton Co., N. C.

ADVANCE PHINT, WILSCN N C

Century Farm Owners

29

Century Farm Owners

ALAMANCE

James Phillip Aldridge
George C. Allen

Emma B. Allen
C.K. Bailey
Howard T. Braxton
Bobby E. Coggins
Mr. Ray Coon

Mrs. Ray Coon
William F. Covington
Mrs. Jesse J. Danieley
Lucy Sharpe Davis
Edward Kerr Freshwater
Robert W. Gibson, Jr.
Koy C. Ingle
Grover Russell Isley
Ralph K. Isley
Mr. James P. McPherson

Mrs. James P. McPherson
Howard A. Pickett
George O. Rogers, Jr.
Earl M. Sartin, Jr.
Grover C. Shaw
George N. Zachary, Jr.

ALEXANDER

Atwell Alexander
Albert Hubbard

Rowena Hubbard
J. Woodrow Payne
Coy Reese
Dale Reese
Mrs. Lelia T. Wagner
Helen M. Wike
Walter D. Doughton
Philip Martell

James Martell
Elizabeth M. Moxley

ANSON

Bertha Carpenter

Mary Elizabeth Carpenter

Nancy I. Landen
T.J. Ingram, Jr.
Elizabeth I. Little (heirs)
Cecil F. Steagall
Marvin L. Tyson

Annie L. Tyson

ASHE

G. Earl Blevins
Virgle Brown

Lorene Brown
Clyde Cox
Mary Sue D'Alcamo
Sara S. Fisher
James Gwyn Gambill
Elizabeth R. Graybeal
Linda G. Hahn
Alfred B. Hurt, Jr.
Bruce Miller
Robert J. Osborne
Clara D. Perkins
Joseph Phipps

Katherine Phipps
Mrs. Eleanor B. Reeves
J. Breece Spencer
Martin Sturgill

Wilma Sturgill
John E. Woodie

AVERY

William W. Avery
Jason P. Hughes

BEAUFORT

Jane Latham Dilday
LP. Hodges
R.R. Leggett, Sr.
Ada L. Mizell
Arthur S. Perkins

Burlington
Graham

Snow Camp
Snow Camp
Graham
Graham

Mebane
Burlington
Burlington
Haw River
Mebane
Burlington
Burlington
Snow Camp
Snow Camp

Burlington
Graham
Burlington
Graham
Snow Camp

Stony Point
Taylorsville

Taylorsville
Taylorsville
Taylorsville
Taylorsville
Taylorsville
Sparta

Marinette, WI
Laurel Springs

Wadesboro

Lilesville
Wadesboro
Peachland
Wadesboro

Crumpler
Crumpler

Laurel Springs
Grassy Creek
Laurel Springs
West Jefferson
West Jefferson
West Jefferson
Crumpler
Lansing
Creston
Lansing
Jefferson

West Jefferson

Lansing

Creston

Sparta

Plumtree
Linville

Belhaven

Washington

Washington

Greenville

Robersonville

Joseph E. Ratcliff
Timothy Sanderson
Alice Sanderson

BERTIE

Mrs. Mary E. Barnes
Joseph M. Browne, III

Johnna R. Browne
Lindsey Chamblee

Lula Mae Chamblee

Olga Butler

Wm. Hoggard
Melvin R. Cobb, Sr.
Robert Holley

Sallie Holley
Cecil S. Holloman, Sr.
Mac W. Lawrence
Edwin M. Parker
Mrs. Harold R. Sessoms

BLADEN

Ottis Lee Cain
Thelma Cromartie
Sophia K. Floyd

Eugene R. Floyd, Sr.
Mrs. John F. Freeman
Jabe T. Frink
William L. Frink
Fleta L. Harrelson
Ida Irvine

Edna Robeson
W.H. Taft McCall

Dorothy Burney
Rose G. McDougald
F.D. McLean (heirs)
Robert F. Melvin
Mary B. Odom

James M. Gibson

Annie R. Parker

Margaret G. Watts
Nellie Ray Parker
Mr. Henry Layton Ross

Mrs. Henry Layton Ross
Albert Roy Shaw
Issac W. Singletary

Sarah K. Singletary
Julius M. Suggs

BRUNSWICK

Glenn E. Carpenter, Jr.
Edwin S. Clemmons
T.J. Gilbert

BUNCOMBE

Carter F. Brown
Thomas William Cochran
Craig MacKenzie Coggins
Jesse L. Israel, Jr.
F.M. Miller
Clyde Parker

Sandra Parker
Irene E. Peeke

M. Catherine Peeke

BURKE

Vernon Guy Huffman
Ivey E. Lowman
Norman E. Lowman
James H. Martin
David McGimsey

Margaret E. McGimsey
Robert B. Sisk
Albert G. Wilson

CABARRUS

George Barnhardt

Margie Barnhardt
Eugene W. Cochrane, Sr.
J. Vigil Hahn
W. Reid Honeycutt
Amanda K. Miller
Mrs. J.F. Moose

Pantego
Bath

Kelford
Kelford

Aulander

Merry Hil
Colerain

Ahoskie
Colerain
Windsor
Ahoskie

Elizabethtown
Elizabethtown
Kelly

Bladenboro
Bladenboro
Bladenboro
Clarkton
Tar Heel

Clarkton

Clarkton

Lake Waccamaw

Fayetteville

Clinton

Elizabethtown
Elizabethtown

Clarkton
Bladenboro

Elizabethtown

Supply
Supply
Bolivia

Leicester
Arden

Black Mountain
Candler
Candler
Weaverville

Weaverville

Connelly Springs

Valdese

Valdese

Hickory

Morganton

Morganton
Connelly Springs

Mt. Pleasant

Charlotte
Mt. Pleasant
Gold Hill
Concord
Mt. Pleasant

30

Century Farm Owners

Willard Moose
Annie W. Peninger
Carl D. Pless, Sr.
George L. Pless
Wade H. Ritchie, Jr.
Edith Walker
Sarah E. Walker

CALDWELL

Brenda Swanson Bartles
Mrs. Ruby Carlton
Margaret Carter-Minton
Margaret S. Dabrowski
Mrs. Hill C. Lackey
Ray C. Starnes
Howard Teague

Mary Teague
Lois S. Whisenant
Rick Winkler

Amanda Winkler

CAMDEN

Albertson Farms, Inc.
H.C. Ferebee III

John E. Ferebee
H.T. Mullen, Jr.
Rebecca M. Tarkington
Sarah T. Walston
Charles B. Williams
Mrs. Rebecca Williams

CARTERET

Archie R. Hardesty
Leslie D. Springle, Jr.

CASWELL

Ralph Aldridge
Lillie H. Allred
Bessie M. Bradsher
Novella Earp
S.N. Rice

Spencer T. Richmond
Otis F. Saunders
Charles Franklin Smith
W. Osmond Smith, Jr.
Mr. Edwin Thompson

Mrs. Edwin Thompson
William McNeill Turner

CATAWBA

Louie D. Baker

Alma H. Baker
Elizabeth Burnette
John K. Cline
Thomas W. Danner, Sr.
Samuel Eckard, Sr.
John Lewis Hewitt, Sr.
Earl H. Moose
Howard B. Reinhardt
Dalthard L. Sigmon
Oliver D. Smiih
Thomas W. Warlick

Martha W. Brame

CHATHAM

Betty Jo Amick
Walter M. Atwater
Paul G. Bright
Walter R. Clark
Tommy Elkins
Louise Ellis
John S. Glosson
Norman A. Jordan
T.C. Justice, Sr.
Louis C. Kidd
C.W. Lutterloh
J. Lamont Norwood
Alfred O'Daniel
Barbara T. Proffitt
Gene F. Sears
Grady O. Vestal
Catherine E. Vestal

Mt. Pleasant

Mt. Pleasant

Rockwell

Rockwell

Concord

Concord

Lenoir

Lenoir

Lenoir

Lenoir

Lenoir

Granite Falls

Taylorsville

Granite Falls
Granite Falls

South Mills
Camden

Elizabeth City
Chester, VA
Camden
Shiloh

Elizabeth City

Newport
Beaufort

Yanceyville

Elon College

Monroe

Milton

Reidsville

Leasburg

Elon College

Leasburg

Semora

Blanch

Yanceyville

Rural Hall

Newton

Lincolnton

Catawba

Hickory

Clareinont

Conover

Maiden

Hickory

Conover

Wilkesboro

Pittsboro

Chapel Hill

Sanford

Pittsboro

Goldston

Raleigh

Pittsboro

Siler City

Pittsboro

Bennett

Pittsboro

Pittsboro

Chapel Hill

Siler City

Apex

Siler City

J.G. Williams
A.R. Wilson

Cecil Wilson

Juanita Clegg
Burdine Womble
Mrs. Obelia S. Womble

CHEROKEE

Mrs. Cleva Anderson
Meb Sudderth Hendrix
Paul A. Ledford
Annie S. McGuire
Ralph Sudderth
Jerry T. Sudderth

CHOWAN

Ira Hollowell Eure
W.P. Jones
Elizabeth S. Taylor
A.D. Ward, Jr.
Florence W. Webb
T. Benbury H. Wood

CLAY

Richard E. Bristol

CLEVELAND

David E. Beam

Ruth S. Beam
Ashbury C. Harrelson
John W. Harris

Macie R. Harris
Edith Lutz

Everett Lutz
Ima C. Seagle
Billy Wilson

COLUMBUS

Sarah Blackwell
Jack B. Blake
John M.M. Blake
John W. Blake
John M.M. Blake, Jr.
Keith Blake
Thelma Blake

Mrs. Gladys McLean Cumbee
Edna Worley Jolly
Charles L. Lennon, Sr.
Mary W. Mintz
Annie Newsome

Marie Council
Lillian Peterson
Manly E. Porter
Clara W. Price
Winifred P. Stout
John L. Woolard

Mary D. Woolard
Alfred J. Worley
Ottis R. Wright

Olive Battle Wright
Jack M. Yates
Robert A. Yates
Lois W. Yoder

CRAVEN

Peggy Fulcher
James A. Ipock, Jr.
J. P. Ipock, Jr.
Charles M. McCoy
Scott Woodrow McCoy
Gene Ormond

Georgia Ormond
Graham Richardson
O.G. Richardson
Parnell West
James B. Whitley, Sr.
Joe D. Williams

CUMBERLAND

Gene Sterling Ammons
Evelyn B. Bullard

Bynum
Apex

Siler City
New Hill

Murphy

Murphy

Murphy

Andrews

Murphy

Murphy

Hobbsville

Edenton

Edenton

Hobbsville

Edenton

Edenton

Hayesville

Lawndale

Shelby
Shelby

Lawndale

Lawndale
Shelby

Cerro Gordo

Chadbourn

Chadbourn

Chadbourn

Chadbourn

Chadbourn

Chadbourn

Whiteville

Tabor City

Clarkton

Hallsboro

Whiteville

Bolton

Whiteville

Whiteville

Whiteville

Delco

Cerro Gordo
Tabor City

Chadbourn
Chadbourn
Whiteville

Vanceboro
New Bern
New Bern
Cove City
Cove City
Kinston

New Bern
New Bern
Dover
Cove City
New Bern

Linden
Autryville

Century Farm Owners

Troy A. Fisher, Sr.
Olive M. Glock
Walter L. Underwood

CURRITUCK

James H. Ferebee, Sr.

James H. Ferebee, Jr.
W.W. Jarvis, Jr.
Roy Franklin Sumrell
Mrs. Mary E. Sumrell
Manly M. West
Hilery T. Whitehurst

Sarah F. Whitehurst

DAVIDSON

Howard Kent Beck
Ralph G. Beckerdite, Sr.
Mrs. Albert M. Cole
Paul A. Cole
James Reece Crouse
John L. Delapp
Noah Edgar Garner
Johnnie Griggs, Sr.

Florence Griggs
Ewa Hanes

Travis Hanes
Ronnie S. Harrison
Hoy L. Long
Mrs. Elva H. Miller
Frankie J. Miller
Conrad F. Motsinger
Robert F. Motsinger
Robert L. Nance
Fred W. Perryman
Mrs. Ralph Riffle
John E. Sink
Jimmie B. Sink
David Lee Smith, Jr.
W.L. Smith, Jr.
Frank Ward (Estate)
Mildred Warfford

Jeffrey Warfford
Calla H. Welborn

Betty B. Welborn
Jack C. Wood
Bruce Wright

Sarilla Wright

DAVIE

H.F. Blackwelder, Jr.
E.F. Etchison
Marshall E. Glasscock
Veola S. Miller
J. Vernon Miller
L. Gene Miller
James L. Ratledge

Bettie R. Rix
Margaret Rich
William M. Seaford

Pauline B. Seaford
Donald H. Smith
E.C. Tatum, Jr.
Charles W. Woodruff

DUPLIN

Kilpatrick Farms, Inc.
Mordicai R. Bennett
Mrs. Robert Blackmore
Theodore C. Bland
Stephen D. Boone
David O. Byrd, Sr.
Mrs. H.C. Carr
Thomas A. Cavenaugh
Florence S. Currie
Patricia J. Denise
Kathleen Brice Fisler
Nina M. Garner
Erma W. Glover
Walter V. Gresham
Rosalyle B. Hall
Alvin E. James
James Oliver Loftin III
Charles B. Marshburn

Fayetteville
Hope Mills
Fayetteville

Shawboro

Moyock
Harbinger
Harbinger
Currituck
Knotts Island

Lexington

Winston-Salem

Denton

Denton

Lexington

Lexington

Denton

Lexington

Clemmons

Denton

Winston-Salem

Clemmons

Lexington

Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem

Denton

Lexington

Winston-Salem

Lexington

Lexington

Denton

Lexington

Denton

Lexington

Thomasville

Virginia Beach, VA
Lexington

Mocksville
Mocksville
Mocksville
Mocksville
Mocksville
Mocksville
Charleston, SC

Greensboro
Mocksville

Mocksville
Mocksville
Mocksville

Kenansville

Mt. Olive

Warsaw

Wallace

Rose Hill

Rose hill

Durham

Wallace

Kenansville

Faison

Burgaw

Mt. Olive

Chapel Hill

Kenansville

Rose Hill

Wallace

Roanoke, VA

Wallace

Adelle T. Matthews
Silas James Maxwell

Emileigh Maxwell Latham
Eugene R. Outlaw
H.C. Powers
Horace Rhodes

Mary L. Rhodes
Troy P. Rhodes
Arline C. Rhodes
DeLeon Smith, Jr.
James W. Stroud
Ruth B. Waller and children
Stephen D. Williams
Kermit P. Williams
Leonidas P. Williams, Jr.

Ruth W. Alford

Margaret W. Norfleet

DURHAM

Mary M. Husketh Coley
Edna S. Page
Beulah S. Simko
Leland Wheeler

Mary Wheeler

Stephen Wheeler

EDGECOMBE

Simmons Farms, Inc.
George Thomas Bottoms, Jr.
Carl V. Brake
Dorothy L. Braswell

Douglas W. Braswell
Mrs. H. Mayo Cherry
Willis Cobb
Lucy L. Cobb
Mary Daughtridge

Vivian Viverette

Paul Whitley, Jr.

Charles Whitley
Elizabeth Gay

Edna Wood

Luther Gay, Jr.

Elizabeth Adams
Thomas M. Gorham
Charles M. Harrell
Oliver Pervis Powell
Irma L. Resico
Daniel Russell Taylor
Rufus A. Thomas
William Wiggs

Margaret Wiggs
James C. Worsley

Josephine D. Worsley

FORSYTH

Ruth S. Abell
James Baker, Jr.
Maynard Baker
Faye A. Burns
Ned Conrad

Betty Conrad
Richard Maxwell Conrad
J. Conyers
Gladys C. Doub
Berry Holden
Mrs. W.G. Moore
Carole Nicholson
Benny Perry
Susan Hunter Petree
James Speed

FRANKLIN

Frank M. Baker, Jr.
Henry K. Baker, Jr.
James H. Baker, Jr.
Mrs. S. J. Beasley
Billie P. Ethridge
Linda P. Jones
David Watson Mitchiner
Gladys M. Scott
Charles A. Sherrod
James D. Wheless

Albany, GA
Austin, TX

Mt. Olive

Wallace

Beulaville

Wallace
Wallace
Pink Hill
Kenansville
Mount Olive
Kenansville
Kenansville
Clinton

Durham
Durham
Morrisville
Durham

Rocky Mount
Tarboro
Rocky Mount
Rocky Mount

Rocky Mount
Fountain
Fountain
Rocky Mount

Rocky Mount

Battleboro
Macclesfield
Rocky Mount
Rocky Mount
Greenville
Rocky Mount
Pinetops

Conetoe

Pfafftown

Zebulon

Louisburg

Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem

Pfafftown

Franklinton

Pfafftown

Youngsville

Winston-Salem

Murfreesboro

Zebulon

Tobaccoville

Louisburg

Louisburg

Zebulon

Louisburg

Louisburg

Louisburg

Smithfield

Franklinton

Bunn

Louisburg

Louisburg

Century Farm Owners

GASTON

William Carpenter

Mattie Carpenter
William N. Craig
Alvin H. Delliger
Edward E. Friday
Jack W. Grier
Lynda W. Hancock
Howard D. Harrelson
Wade Hovis
Edith Pasour

Clay Pasour
Mary F. Ratchford
Paul N. Ratchford, Jr.

Paul N. Ratchford, Sr.
Thomas G. Sparrow

D. Russell Stroup
A. A. Stroup

Sarah R. Watts

GATES

Frank S. Barnes

E. A. Blanchard (heirs)
Joseph R. Freeman, Jr.

E. J. Freeman (Estate)
J.D. Hill

John R. Langston, Jr.
Christine L. Modlin
Samuel L. Morgan
S.E. Nixon

Mrs. Nina Gatling Parker
Margaret L. Piland
Charles Walter Rountree
Elizabeth Rountree
Herbert F. Rountree
Doris L. Stephenson
Edward P. Story
Mrs. Kate Walters
Carl Webb
Marvin Wiggins
Maxine S. Wiggins

GRAHAM

Amanda R. Blankenship

GRANVILLE

Fred Blackwell

William A. Bobbitt (heifs)

Jacksey M. Bobbitt
W.B. Crews

Jack Thomas Dickerson

Elsie Dickerson
Mrs. M.T. Geer
James B. Haney
Richard W. Harris, Jr.
Solomon H. Harris
Pearl Sears Howell

F. Earl Hunt, Jr.
Nan G. Hunt

Daniel Hunt

Jean Hunt
Robinette M. Husketh
Edward Thomas Husketh, Jr.
Ralph H. Lane, Sr.
Alfred W. Lyon
Mark Lyon
James O. May
Mrs. Mary I. Parham
Adelle W. Perry
Claude A. Renn
Robert C. Renn
L. Ray Royster
Mrs. Emma M. Summers
William A. Terry
Lemon Thales Turner

Rosa W. Turner (heirs)
Thomas William Winston

GREENE

Claude L. Barrett, Jr.
L.O. Beddard
Martha E. Croom

Lincolnton

Gastonia

Cherryville

Dallas

Gastonia

Gastonia

Cherryville

Bessemer City

Dallas

Gastonia
Gastonia

Gastonia
Bessemer City

Bessemer City

Corapeake

Hobbsville

Gates

Gates

Sunbury

Gates

Suffolk, VA

Corapeake

Sunbury

Gatesville

Raleigh

Gates

Gates

Gates

Severn

Eure

Hertford

Gates

Hobbsville

Robbinsville

Oxford
Creedmoor

Oxford
Oxford

Durham

Oxford

Oxford

Oxford

Kittrell

Franklinton

Franklinton

Creedmoor

Creedmoor

Rocky Mount

Creedmoor

Creedmoor

Franklinton

Oxford

Franklinton

Oxford

Franklinton

Roxboro

Durham

Henderson

Morehead City

Virgilina, VA

Kinston
Snow Hill
Stantonsburg

Albert Sidney Darden

Henry C. Dixon

John R. Edmundson, Jr.

Wm. C. Edmundson
Roy T. Forrest
J. Paul Frizzelle
William J. Galloway
Sandra H. Garner
James W. Herring
Charles F. Sugg, Jr.

GUILFORD

W.T. Ballinger
Emily Ballinger
Mr. Max Ballinger
Mrs. Max Ballinger

Edith M. Bartko

John Garland Clapp, Sr.

Leonard Fields

William W. Greeson

Charles Ingram
Kathryn Ingram

Jack B. Johnson

Robert W. McNairy

J. Benjamin Miles

Fred Nix
Nellie Nix

Thomas Osborne
George Osborne
Eula R. Osborne

Cleora C. Payne

Walker W. Scott

John Henry Stewart

Franklin J. Teague

Mrs. Jew Irvin Wagoner

John B. Wagoner

HALIFAX

Mrs. Thomas Braswell
Robert B. Fleming
Claude Garner
Laura Garner
Quentin Gregory, Jr.
Annie R. Hockaday
William H. Lewis
Raymond F. Shearin

HARNETT

DeLorese Caviness
Thomas Caviness

John D. Champion

F. Junius Denning

Lamas Floyd

Mack R. Hudson

Betty H. Johnson

Ralph L. Johnson

Robert M. Kinton
Katherine Kinton

Daywood E. Langdon

Shirley W. McDaniel

Thelma F. Parrish

Hoke Smith
Dorothy A. Smith

HAYWOOD

Robert Fulbright

Sylvia Echols
Clifford M. Harrell, Jr.
John H. Kirkpatrick, Jr.
Way Mease, Sr.
Hugh L.Noland
Riley W.Palmer

HENDERSON

Carl L. Brannon
Wallace Case

Betty Case
Edward Leroy Hawkins
Charles B. Ingram

Clara H. Ingram
W.V. Levi

Pauline Levi

Farmville
Snow Hill
Snow Hill

Ayden
Maury
Walstonburg
Snow Hill
Snow Hill
Snow Hill

Greensboro

Greensboro
Greensboro
Stokesdale
Julian
High Point

Winston-Salem
Greensboro
McLeansville
Gibsonville

Greensboro

Kernersville
Browns Summit
McLeansville
Elon College
Gibsonville
Gibsonville

Enfield
Louisburg
Roanoke Rapids

Halifax

Roanoke Rapids

Palmyra

Raleigh

Fuquay-Varina

Fuquay-Varina

Angier

Benson

Benson

Dunn

Fuquay-Varina
Fuquay-Varina

Angier
Coats

Elizabethtown
Kipling

Waynesville

Waynesville

Clyde

Canton

Clyde

Asheville

Horse Shoe
Zirconia

Hendersonville
Hendersonville

Zirconia

Century Farm Owners

HERTFORD

Henry Thomas Brown, Jr.
Henry Thomas Brown, Sr.
Samuel T. Burbage, Jr.
Patricia O. Burke
Elizabeth C. Sessoms
Elsie H. Snipes
Louis W. Snipes
Ruth Thomas
Mary Thomas

HOKE

Delia Raynor
Harold M. Thrower

HYDE

T.E. Bridgman (heirs)
Camille B. Clarke
George T. Davis, Jr.

Calvin B. Davis
Coleman C. Davis
Mary Louise McGee
Tra Jennette Perry
Christine F. Ramon

IREDELL

Mrs. Rose H. Albea
Thomas A. Allison
Josephine T. Anderson
L.M. Beaver
Mrs. Emma K. Boyd
Addie T. Bradsher

Wallace R. Bradsher
Robert T. Brawley
William Kerr Brawley
David Edgar Douglas, Jr.
Russell Avery Douglas
Martha S. Goodin
Linda S. Goodin
John E. Hendren
Melmoth W. Hill
John Howard
Charles C. Lynn
Glenn Mayes

Mable Mayes
Roy S. McNeely
Ralph Moore

Lucile Moore
Henry P. Mullis
William M. Pressly
Harry Prevette

Dean T. Redmond and Brothers
Mrs. John D. Stevenson
Robert S. Thomas
Mrs. Mary D. Warren
Mrs. George B. Weaver
T.W. Weaver
Wesley O. Weston
Mrs. Irene P. Williams

JOHNSTON

Claudia Atkinson
Samuel T. Avera
Demetrius H. Bagley
Mrs. Worth Bagley
Myrtle Bailey

Mamie P. Bailey
L.W. Bailey (heirs)
Lunette Barber

Charlotte B. Parker
Susan S. Barbour
Ayden Barefoot
Harold Jake Barnes
Rochelle H. Bolyard
Mrs. Bertha H. Boyette
Ray A. Boyette
Edell Watson Boykin
Zilphia A. Brantley
Margaret Britt

Leonard Britt
Joel Thurman Brown
Jesse Herman Brown

Raleigh

Woodland

Como

Ahoskie

Ahoskie

Ahoskie

Ahoskie

Cofield

Raeford
Red Springs

Swan Quarter
Greenville
Swan Quarter

Engelhard
Swan Quarter
Colerain
Engelhard

Norfolk, VA

Statesville

Statesville

Statesville

Mooresville

Roxboro

Mooresville

Mooresville

Statesville

Statesville

Statesville

Statesville

Turnersburg

Hickory

Union Grove

Statesville

Raleigh

Statesville
Harmony

Harmony

Stony Point

Raleigh

Statesville

Statesville

Harmony

Statesville

Statesville

Olin

Statesville
Olin

Clayton

Smithfield

Washington, DC

Kenly

Selma

Fayetteville
Clayton

Smithfield

Newton Grove

Wendell

Clayton

Selma

Kenly

Kenly

Wendell

Princeton

Selma
Selma

Martha Sanders Burns

Smithfield

G.H. Coats, III

Salt Lake, UT

Leonard R. Creech

Oxford

Wade Sidney Creech

Smithfield

Mrs. Henry J. Cross

Selma

Mary Elizabeth Davis

Kenly

Clara P. Kirby

Mr. W.R. Denning, Jr.

Benson

Mrs. W.R. Denning, Jr.

Lamas Denning

Benson

Raymond E. Earp, Jr.

Selma

Mary E. Moore

Honey L. Edwards

Clayton

Barbara T. Ennis

Clayton

Patricia Taylor

Addie Barbara Fuller

Smithfield

Tryon George

Four Oaks

Elizabeth George

James J. Godwin

Kenly

William P. Godwin

Kenly

Sue Gray

Trenton

Bonnie Greene

Kenly

Mrs. Lois R. Hatcher

Selma

B. Hinnant

Kenly

William D. Hinnant

Selma

Ralph H. Hinnant

Kenly

Mrs. Rebecca H. Hinton

Zebulon

Clyde H. Honeycutt

Willow Spring

Edward Osmond Jeffreys

Zebulon

Harold Layton Johnson

Four Oaks

Margaret H. Johnson

Clayton

Emily Coats King

Willow Spring

S. Aaron Langdon

Benson

Will H. Lassister, III

Four Oaks

Will H. Lassister

Four Oaks

Wade A. Lassister

Four Oaks

Iris H. Lawrence

Raleigh

Mrs. Viola Lee

Four Oaks

William Homer Lee

Benson

Jacqueline W. Lee

William Dayton Lee

Benson

Roger Lynch

Selma

Yoakum Austin Matthews

Benson

Samuel B. McLamb

Smithfield

Jean McLean

Chapel Hill

Ruth McLean

Cora McLean
George Ammie McLemore, Jr.
Mary Moore
Velton Calvert Moore
Sam Narron

Susie Narron
Lela R. Ogburn
Beebe Oliver Parker
L. Donald Parker
William Parker

Norma Tuttle
Lawrence B. Peacock
Merlin A. Peedin
Wilbur M. Bailey
Ramona Bailey Phillips
Henry A. Pittman
John Robert Richardson
Edith Pike Richardson
Joseph Bryant Rose, Sr.
James Royall

Thomas Royall

Alice Royall
Elizabeth B. Sanders
Mrs. Maytle J. Stephenson
Milton Stephenson

Velma Stephenson
Alfred T. Taylor, Jr.
Mavis Atkinson Thorne
Charles E. Tomlinson
Evelyn H. Vinson
Herman C. Vinson

Turner Vinson, Jr.
Kathleen L. Walton
Linda L. Whitley
Cleo J. Williams
Walter R. Williams
Charles W. Wilson
Alyne K. Woodall
Herman Leo Woodard

New York, NY
Selma
Four Oaks
Middlesex

Willow Spring
Pine Level
Benson
Summerfield

Benson

Princeton

Selma

Selma

Kenly

Wendell

Kenly

Kinston

Smithfield

Smithfield
Benson
Willow Spring

Burke, VA

Dunn

Clayton

Clayton

Clayton

Four Oaks

Four Oaks

Four Oaks

Kenly

Clayton

Goldsboro

Princeton

Century Farm Owners

Johnnie Woodard
Eula Woodard
E. Worth

Lillie P. Yelverton
JONES

William Clen Bynum, Jr.
James E. Foscue

Sarah T. Foscue
Sue M. Huggins Gray
Beasley M. Jones
William M. Kime

LEE

William T. Brooks
John A. Eades
Veanna P. Goodwin
Dorothy Smith King
Doyette Lett

Vernie L. Womack
Mrs. Clarence M. McNeill
William A. Riggsbee
Walter Scoggins

Ruby Scoggins
Martha B. Swaringen

LENOIR

R. Lindsey Dail

Isabelle M. Fletcher and Sons

Sally M. Lowe
David Herring
Whitford Hill
Alton Rouse

Mary Rouse
Frank A. Rouse
W. Ralph Taylor, Jr.
Oscar W. Waller
Wilbur A. Tyndall

LINCOLN

Larry B. Baxter
J.E. Carpenter, Jr.
Anna Casper
John K. Cline
Nancy J. Conner
Mrs. Frances N. Hains
Ruby M. Heafner
L.J. Hovis
Mrs. Coy Lantz
Coy F. Lantz
Harold Reep
Kathleen M. Turner
William R. Warlick
Craig L. Wood
Dolores L. Wood

MACON

Floyd Bradley
Charles L. Browning
Eula Bryson

Robert Bryson
Mrs. Lily C. Moody Cabe
Eugene E. Crawford
Elmer W. Crawford
Robert L. Crawford
Ralph J. Dean

Lolita Dean
Robert Enloe
Milton Fouts

Mary Fouts
Cecile Gibson
Sam K. Greenwood II
Thomas Henry

Emma Henry
E.A. Howell
Jeff W. May
Robert McGaha

Mattie McGaha
Charles William Nolen
John F. Raby
Annie Smith
Jesse L. West, Jr.

Selma

Smithfield
Selma

Pollocksville
High Point

Trenton
Pink Hill
New Bern

Sanford
Lemon Springs
Apex
Broadway
Lillington

Sanford
Sanford
Sanford

Sanford

Kinston
Kinston

LaGrange
Raleigh
Seven Springs

Kinston
Kinston
Kinston
Pink Hill

Shelby

Lincolnton

Iron Station

Lincolnton

Lincolnton

Charlotte

Lincolnton

Lincolnton

Lincolnton

Lincolnton

Lincolnton

Lincolnton

Lincolnton

Lincolnton

Franklin
Franklin
Franklin

Franklin
Franklin
Franklin
Franklin
Franklin

Franklin
Franklin

Franklin

Aberdeen

Franklin

Franklin

Topton

Franklin

Franklin
Franklin
Franklin
Franklin

Raymond Womack
Betty Womack

MADISON

James R. Allen, Jr.
Hall Bruce
W. Wayne Fisher
Homer Plemmons
Ruby Plemmons
Gilbert Stackhouse

MARTIN

Elizabeth H. Coltrain
King Cratt

Annie Cratt
William Simeon Daniel
Charles G. Forbes
Napoleon Green

Sylvia G. Smith
Daniel McCoy Griffin
Rufus S. Gurganus

Sybil P. Gurganus
Clay W. Harris
Samuel David Jenkins
Ben Gray Lilley
Annie Peele c/o Charles Peele
Jean G. Rogers

Mary Griffin

Mickie Nelson
Mrs. Delmus Rogerson
Bessie H. Savage
Harry Smith

Nina Smith
Berry Warren

Betty Warren
John Smallwood Whitley

Mcdowell

Henry Brown

Wilda Brown
Patricia H. Brown

Kent W. Brown

Julie P. Brown

Rebecca L. Hemphill

Jacqueline R. Templeton

John D. Templeton
Thaddeus Conley
William G. English
Charles H. Greenlee

Wm. G. Greenlee
Ruth McEntire Greenlee
Charles F. Ledbetter
J.M. Mackey
Clara R. McCall
Lloyd G. Miller
Daniel L. Rowe
Abraham L. Simmons

MECKLENBURG

John F. Black
Mary E. Cato

Edith Ewart
Carolyn I. Regan Depuy
William E. Hipp
Mrs. Dan Hood
Elizabeth W. Matthews
John McDowell
Davis Robinson
Sam Rone

Janie M. Ardrey
Edna A. Scott
Lillian M. Stephenson
Mrs. Miriam S. Whisnant

Mrs. Lilyan S. Hunter

MITCHELL

Mrs. Lorene P. Greene

Rex Peake

Max Peake

Dean Peake
Guy Silver

JoAnn Silver

Franklin

Mars Hill
Marshall
Marshall
Hot Springs

Marshall

Jamesville
Williamston

Jamesville

Robersonville

Williamston

Williamston
Williamston

Williamston

Robersonville

Jamesville

Williamston

Williamston

Williamston
Williamston
Williamston

Williamston

Williamston

Raleigh
Marion

Raleigh
Marion
Marion

Old Fort

Alexandria, VA

Old Fort

Marion

Old Fort

Nebo

Marion

Huntersville
Huntersville

Charlotte
Charlotte
Matthews
Charlotte
Charlotte
Charlotte
Pineville

Charlotte

Raleigh

Cornelius

Spruce Pine

Bakersville

Century Farm Owners

MONTGOMERY

Martha M. Ayers
Emma Bruton
Bessie Bruton

David William Joseph Bruton
Crissie L. Dunn
Mary Leach Harper
G.A. Haywood, Jr.
Jean McKinnon Hubbard
W.A. Leach

Mary Harper

Estelle Allen
B.D. McKimmon
Charlie Singleton
Brenda Singleton
Arthur G. Stewart

Willie L. Stewart
Frank P. Tedder

Mattie Tedder
J.C. Thompson
Cleo Ottis Wooley
Bessie Wright

Valerie Wright

W.C. Wright, Jr.

MOORE

John M. Baker
Herbert N. Blue
J. Sam Blue

Wiley Harrison Callicutt
George R. Cameron

Ruth S. Cameron
Henry Lester Caviness

Helen Caviness
Billy Cole

Betty Cole
Mrs. Margaret Foushee
Mrs. Maude Blue Hendren
Mrs. Myrtle Garner Hussey
Mrs. Lucile H. Hyman
Alice Ann Hyman

Robert J. Hyman, Jr.
Douglas Floyd Kelly
Arthur Lawhon
Cary Lee McLeod, Jr.
Mary Ruth H. McLeod
Fred B. Monroe
Billy J. Poley
Charles G. Priest
Arthur L. Read
Helen M. Garner Scott
James W. Shaw
John Alex Smith
Robert G. Wadsworth, Jr.

NASH

W.B. Austin, Jr.
Maymie W. Barnes
Lucy M. Batchelor
Mary D. Batchelor
Norman R. Batchelor
R. Winslow Bone
Justice A. Boyd
Sallie Edna Braswell

Mrs. Helen B. Jones
Bessie Evans Brown
Ronald E. Capps

Pearl C. Capps
Mary Lee Coley
Dorothene W Cooper
Samuel A.J. Deans
Guy Farmer

Jerry Farmer
Luther Fisher
Everette J. Glover
William O. Griffin
Mrs. Florine R. Jeffreys
Louise M. Johnson
Charles H. Jordan
Donald L. Lamm
Russell A. Lamm, Sr.
Sallie M. Lamm

S.D. Lamm

Fairmont
Mount Gilead

Biscoe
Troy

Mt. Gilead
Mt. Gilead
Troy

Mt. Gilead

Troy

Troy

Jackson Springs

Mt. Gilead

Mt. Gilead

Candor

Biscoe

Cameron
Carthage
Carthage
Seagrove
Cameron

Carthage

West End

Glendon
Carthage
Robbins
Carthage
Carthage

Jackson, MS

Carthage

Carthage

Carthage

West End

West End

Vass

Vass

Robbins

Cameron

Vass

Carthage

Kernersville
Rocky Mount
Nashville
Spring Hope
Spring Hope
Nashville
Rocky Mount
Nashville

Wilson
Rocky Mount

Rocky Mount
Nashville
Spring Hope
Raleigh

Battleboro

Bailey

Red Oak

Nashville

Nashville

Elm City

Bailey

Bailey

Nashville

Dolly M. Leonard
W.R. Mann
C.J. Matthews
Hattie Evans Moore
Frank Parker Philips, Jr.
Jack W. Price
Christine Vester Price
Carl Rich
Ray Lee Rose
Mrs. Hazel Cooper Rose
A.R. Stallings
David Strickland
E.T. Taylor, Jr.

Mozelle Taylor
Henry Ivan Tharrington
Benjamin L. Ward
Gene Watson

Sara Watson
Leon Weaver
Mae W. Williams
Lou Jean D. Winstead

Walter M. Winstead

NEW HANOVER

Betty Jo Floyd Hulin

NORTHAMPTON

Howard G. Barnes
Lizzie F. Edwards
Alice H. Elliott
G.B. Fleetwood
Hubert Fenton Floyd
Marvin L. Floyd
Peter Floyd
Calvin Moore Floyd
Leon Flythe

Travis J. Flythe
William W. Grant
Marshall W. Grant
Mary G. Haigwood
Barbara Harris

Mrs. L. Samuel Harris
Edward T. Hollowell
M.B. Johnson
Abner P. Lassiter, Sr.
Mrs. E.W. Martin
Miss Jimmie N. Martin
Mrs. Rosalie T. Melvin
John S. Sykes
Mrs. Anne L. Warren
J.R. Woodard

ONSLOW

Irene Cotton

Russell Uzzell

James Uzzell Family
Anthony Cox

James Cox
Janelle Girouard

Avanelle Y. Girouard
Mitti P. Hewitt

Sam P. Hewitt
Martha B. Hodnett
Mary M. Hoods
Reba G. Justice
Mrs. Bernie B. Kesler
Dixie L. Mattocks

Pauline M. Sanders
Mrs. Ruth V. Mills
Mrs. Martha M. Olive
Mrs. P.M. Paschall
James A. Rouse
William Mattocks Sanders
Mrs. Harriet D. Scott
Joseph Rhem Taylor, Jr.
Wayne B. Venters
Elmer J. Venters
Mrs. C.H. Venters, Sr.
Roland V. Venters

ORANGE

Elbert H. Allison
N.K. Andrews

Nashville
Rocky Mount
Nashville
Rocky Mount
Battleboro
Rocky Mount
Rocky Mount
Cary

Elm Grove
Nashville
Rocky Mount
Middlesex
Wilson

Rocky Mount

Battleboro

Whitakers

Rocky Mount
Maudlin, SC
Nashville

Wilmington

Severn

Virginia Beach, VA

Woodland

Severn

Garysburg

Gaston

Gaston

Roanoke R apids
Conway

Garysburg
Garysburg
Greenville
Chester, VA

Woodland

Pendleton

Conway

Conway

Conway

Raleigh

Conway

Raleigh

Conway

Hubert

Garner

Angier

Hubert

Richlands

Dover

Jacksonville

Richlands

Stella

Richlands

Richlands

Atlanta, GA

Hubert

Hubert

Jacksonville

Richlands

Jacksonville

Richlands

Richlands

Fletcher

Hurdle Mills
Hillsborough

36

Century Farm Owners

Elizabeth N. Blalock
Thomas N. Blalock
James M. Blalock

J. Fred Bowman
Betty Bowman

Jane M. Branscome
L.M. Merritt
E. Mangum

John H. Cate, Sr.

Flora Dick Dellinger
Edna Dellinger
Cothran Dellinger
Gene Dellinger

Katherine Kirkpatrick

Floyd Fox Miller

Shelton L. Ray

Richard Roberts
Ollie Roberts

L. Phillip Walker

Bryant J. Walker

PAMLICO

James B. Hardison
Alfred D. Jones
William F. Tingle
Shirley L. Tingle
I. Lee Whorton

PASQUOTANK

Annie B. Lowry

Walter Lowry, Jr.
Richard F. Stallings

Johnnie W. Stallings

PENDER

Johnie C. Garrason
Carolyn G. Garrason

Joab F. Johnson, Jr.
Emily Johnson

Albert H. Pridgen, Jr.

Rebecca W. Reynolds
J. Paul Reynolds
William L. Reynolds

PERQUIMANS

Mattie F. Boyton

Linwood G. Boyton
Noah Felton, Jr.

Emma Smith

Mary Floyd
L.G. Howell
William Nixon, III
Gene Perry

Lydia Perry
Claude N. Rountree
Elizabeth S. Taylor

J.H. Skinner

S.S. Tarkington
Doris R. Winslow

Elizabeth R. Felton

PERSON

Richard H. Bailey

Paul Bailey
Mr. Eugene C. Berryhill

Mrs. Eugene C. Berryhil
Eddie M. Blackard
Bessie M. Bradsher
W.L. Bradsher
Alice S. Broach
Brooks R. Carver
Mrs. Pearl C. Crumpton
Fred Fox, Sr.

Fred Fox, Jr.
John W. Glenn
Addie Jones Hall
Lois Hamlin

Eleanor Dunn

Joy Mangum
Roberta W. Hanna

John Hanna
Larry C. Hester

Hurdle Mills

Burlington
Chapel Hill

Zebulon
Mebane

Raleigh
Hillsborough
Chapel Hill
Hillsborough

Hillsborough
Hillsborough

Arapahoe
Pamlico, FL
Oriental

Bayboro

Elizabeth City
Elizabeth City

Wilmington

Burgaw

Atkinson
Wilmington

Hertford
Hertford

Hertford
Hertford
Hertford

Belvidere
Edenton

Winfall

Roxboro

Roxboro

Roxboro

Roxboro

Roxboro

Hurdle Mills

Roxboro

Roxboro

Roxboro

Roxboro
Roxboro
Roxboro

Roxboro
Hurdle Mills

Patrick C. Hester
Lucile B. Hicks
James H. Holeman
Stephen Long

Annie Long
John H. Merritt, Jr.
Mildred S. Nichols

B.I. Satterfield

A.J. Satterfield
Mrs. O.W. Pointer
Maurice B. Robertson
Richard Suitt

Yvonne Suitt
William Tillett

Thomas Tillett
John W. Vanhook

PITT

G.W. Benson
Helen Jewep Cannon
Mrs. Dodie M. Carson
Margaret B. Dwyer
Lottie Ellis

Bruce Ellis Boyd
Ronald H. Garris
Worth B. Hardee
Charles T. Hardison
Susanna A. Harris
James T. Lang
T.W. Lang

Mrs. Edward W. May

Robert W. May
Alfred McLawhorn, Jr. (heirs)
Haywood A. McLawhorn (heirs)
Milton R. Moore
Clarence H. Moye, II

G. A. Newton
Bert S. Smith, Jr.
Robert S. Spain
Iris Taylor

Herbert Taylor
Mrs. Julian B. Timberlake, Jr.
Clifford S. Whichard
Edward A. Whichard
J. Eric Whichard
Delano R. Wilson
Chester Worthington

POLK

Bernard J. Womack

RANDOLPH

R.C. Adams
Robert L. Blair, Jr.
Robert F. Brittain

Ulnah A. Brittain
Pauline S. Brower

H. Grady Brown
Branson Coltrane

Thelma Coltrane
E. Cone

Mildred E. Spencer
Clarice C. Cox
Howard C. Craven
Lynden H. Craven
D.S. Davis
Connie C. Haskins
Jay Hohn, Jr.

Linda A. Hohn
Virtle Craven Holloway
Hal J. Luther
Myrtle McDaniel

J. Allen McDaniel
Julia E. Newberry
Samuel Vernace Pugh, Sr.
Mary C. Purvis
Joe W. Routh
Clyde R. Spencer
Clay Sugg

Ruby Sugg
Mary Alice White
Earl Reece White

Hurdle Mills
Roxboro
Timberlake
Roxboro

Roxboro
Roxboro

Hurdle Mills

Roxboro

Roxboro

Raleigh

Roxboro

Ayden

Kinston

Bethel

Farmville

Winterville

Ayden

Greenville

Greenville

Ayden

Farmville

Farmville

Farmville

Winterville

Winterville

Grifton

Farmville

Farmville

Farmville

Raleigh

Ayden

Tarboro

Stokes

Stokes

Stokes

Winterville

Greenville

Mill Spring

Denton
Trinity
Asheboro

Siler City
High Point
High Point

Trinity

Siler City

Franklinville

Ramseur

Randleman

Concord

Randleman

Asheboro
Asheboro
Asheboro

Greensboro

Franklinville

Asheboro

Franklinville

Archdale

Seagrove

High Point
High Point

Century Farm Owners

RICHMOND

James L. Dawkins
Lila C. Dawkins
John Hybert Dockery
Ray Gibson
Robert S. Gibson
Mrs. Mildred M. Laton
Alonzo Bliss McQueen
Mrs. Emmett A. Rivenbark
Grayson Watson

ROBESON

John Hybert Atkinson
Carl Ayers
Edward C. Baker
Betty G. Barnes
Knox M. Barnes
Bahnson N. Barnes
Walter R. Baxley

Sarah Baxley
Naomi Bracey
Leon Douglas Bridgers
Douglas Bullock
B.O. Burns
Mrs. H.D. Burns
Margaret L. Dutton
W. Fred Fisher

Norma L. Fisher
Lester W. Floyd
Fred W. Floyd (heirs)
Thomas Greyard
Douglas Hammond
Clifford H. Hammond
Edwin J. Humphrey
Annie Humphrey
Lawrence F. Ivey
James H. Ivey
Jack Leggett Jenkins, Jr.

Jack Leggett Jenkins, Sr.
J. Garth Lewis
John H. McArthur, Jr.
Langdon T. McCormick
Neill McCormick
William N. McCormick
Julia Mclver
Nan McKellar
M.G. McKenzie, Jr.
Edward H. McKinnon
Katie McLean
Mary W. McLean
Mrs. Robert McMillan
Mrs. Laelia Pate McRae
Mrs. Doris McRae Moore
Paul S. Oliver, Jr.
James R. Oliver
Joseph Page
George Reed Pate
Charles H. Pearce
Islay C. Pittman
Benjamin Pittman, Jr.
Thomas Powers
Preston Powers
Muldrew Powers
Mrs. John B. Regan
Margaret Rice
Carson C. Sessoms
Benjamin F. Shaw, Jr.
L.R. Shaw
Mrs. Wilma Shooter
Mrs. Ada A. Shooter
Blanche N. Skillman
Charles T. Smith
Earl Smith
Okey Stephens
Carl D. Stephens
Mrs. A.F. Stone
Aldena Stone
Leon Stuart
Robert Stuart, Jr.
Jane B. Thrower
Daniel Earle Townsend
Mabel A. Townsend
Evelyn S. Waddell
Mrs. Beulah W. Ward

Rockingham

Myrtle Beach, SC

Norfolk, VA

Radford, VA

Ellerbe

Ellerbe

Rockingham

Ellerbe

Lumberton

Rowland

Maxton

Lumberton

Lumberton

Lumberton

St. Pauls

Rowland

Rowland

Rowland

Rowland

Fairmont

Lumberton

St. Pauls

Lumberton

Four Oaks

Fairmont

Rowland

Rowland

Shannon

Orrum
Orrum
Fairmont

Fairmont

Wakulla

Fairmont

St. Pauls

St. Pauls

Lumber Bridge

Rowland

Orrum

Rowland

Maxton

Maxton

Fairmont

Rowland

Rowland

Fairmont

Fairmont

Fairmont

Rowland

Fairmont

Rowland

Lumberton

St. Pauls

St. Pauls

Lumberton

Lumberton

St. Pauls

Lumber Bridge

Fairmont

Lumberton

Red Springs

Lumberton

Lumberton

Lumberton

Lumberton

Lumberton

Lumberton

Rowland

Fairmont

Red Springs

Durham

McDonald

Orrum

Rowland

ROCKINGHAM

Paul Payne

William David Bennett
Mrs. Grace S. Brannock
Charles F. Burton, Jr.
Thomas S. Butler
Ralph W. Cummings
H.J. Dye
Samyria W. King

John D. King
Mrs. Rachel C. Lufty
C. Alton Pearson
T.E. Witty

ROWAN

James W. Brown, Sr.
B.N. Fleming
Charles T. Graham
Turner C. Hall, Sr.
Mrs. Burton L. Jones
R. Howard Knox
Harold R. Overcash
Charlie M. Sloop
J.C. Stirewalt
Mrs. Ben B. White
Roy E. Wyatt

RUTHERFORD

Margaret Bostic
Walter Byers

Lucille Byers
James D. Carpenter
John D. Carpenter
Howard L. Daniel
Margaret S. Davis
William F. Davis
Mrs. Emma G. Depriest
J. Baxter Doggett
Carl M. Edgerton
Mrs. Lucy F. Ellis

Mary F. Geer
Jack M. Freeman, Jr.
William Melvin Harris
Jerome Holler

Beth Holler
Mary V. Miller Huss
Judson F. Koone
Samuel L. Lawing
Robert L. McKinney
Ruth G. Melton
Mrs. O.R. Padgett
Frances F. Phillips
J.O. Toms

SAMPSON

Marion A. Allen

Mary K. Allen

Sallie Allen
George B. Autry
Leroy Autry

Annie Belle Herring Bass
Thera Godwin Bass
T. Ray Best
Alton Byron Bizzell
Herbert S. Bland, Jr.
Janellen Bradshaw

Delmon Bradshaw
Mrs. Charles Bryant
John C. Bryant
Thomas F. Darden

Corretta Darden
Charles Earl Daughtry
Sudie O. Davis
James Godwin

Jane Godwin
James E. Hairr
Margie Hall

Lester Hall
James L. Hines, Jr.
Cloyce C. Honeycutt
Hannibal W. Jernigan, Jr.
Lucille Jernigan
Clarence O. Jones

Madison

Stokesdale

Reidsville

Reidsville

Reidsville

Raleigh

Eden

Reidsville

Reidsville

Summerfield

Summerfield

Mt. UHa

Cleveland

Cleveland

Mt. UHa

Woodleaf

Cleveland

Mooresville

Salisbury

Rockwell

Salisbury

Richfield

Bostic
Forest City

Forest City
Forest City
Forest City
Ellenboro
Ellenboro
Union Mills
Forest City
Rutherfordton
Bostic

Ellenboro
Forest City
Union Mills

Rutherfordton
Union Mills
Forest City
Rutherfordton
Rutherfordton
Mooresboro
Bostic
Forest City

Rose Hill

Chapel Hill

Autryville

Clinton

Dunn

Clinton

Smithfield

Willard

Faison

Clinton
Clinton
Faison

Newton Grove

Fayetteville

Dunn

Siler City
Autryville

Turkey
Roseboro
Dunn
Clinton
Newton Grove

Century Farm Owners

Harold B. Lamb
L. Murray Lewis
Billy C. Lockamy
Floyd Lockerman
Alton McGee
Robert W. McLamb
W.I. McLamb

Elizabeth J. McLamb
Marshall. J. McLamb (heirs)
Mrs. Alice P. Merritt
Flossie Autry Mobley

Vida Autry
Claude H. Moore
Charles Henry Murphy
James A. Parker
Bertie A. Parker
Stacy Hamilton Peterson
Ed Purcell
Romie G. Simmons
H.L. Stewart, Jr.
Jean B. Sutton
W.I. Taylor, Jr.
Charles Thomas

Floyd Lockerman
Mae H. Troublefield
Marshall. H. Troublefield
Mr. James R. Vann

Mrs. James R. Vann
Houston B. Warren
Loyd C. Warwick
Edith M. Westbrook
Granger A. Westbrook
Lillian J. Worley

SCOTLAND

James A. Cooley
Graham B. Gainey

Nancy M. Gainey
Mary McRae Lee

Doris McRae Moore
Jeannette McGirt
Wright Parker

Mozelle Parker
Sarah McRae Rowan
Joyce Pate Ward

STANLY

Mrs. Maudie Aldridge
Margie Allen
Paul Bowers

Etha Bowers
C. Spurgeon Brooks
Luther B. Efird
George F. Eury
Edna R. Hathcock

Farrington M. Hathcock
G.A. Hatley
U.A. Hatley
Kathy M. Little
Bill Moore
Virgil C. Moss
Grady Palmer
Joyce H. Pickler
John S. Pickler, II
Robert A. Stoker
W.L. Thompson, Jr.
Mrs. W.L. Thompson, Sr.

STOKES

Etta M. Boles
Wanda Brewer

Charles Brewer
Minnie W. Cates

Willie Mae Cates
Trudie W. Dalton
Luther Ferguson
Worth Gentry

Marquerit Gentry
Ethel Cates Hutchison
Wendell V. Keiger
Mabel S. Lawson
Ralph W. Lawson
Mattie Cates Lewillyn

Garland

Faison

Clinton

Salemburg

Turkey

Roseboro

Garland

Roseboro

Clinton

Autryville

Turkey

Tomahawk

Clinton

Clinton

Clinton

Clinton

Clinton

Clinton

Mt. Olive

Burgaw

Salemburg

Faison
Faison
Clinton

Roseboro
Newton Grove
Burgaw
Mt. Olive
Clinton

Wagram
Laurinburg

Rowland

Wagram
Gibson

Rowland
Hillsborough

Norwood
Norwood
Albemarle

Richfield
Albemarle
Mt. Pleasant
Oakboro

Albemarle

Albemarle

Albemarle

Albemarle

New London

New London

Randleman

New London

Albemarle

Albemarle

Albemarle

Germanton
King

Greensboro

Westfield

King

King

Greensboro
Tobaccoville
King
Danbury
Walnut Cove

SURRY

Anna Pell Broadwell
Grady Cooper, Jr.
Grady Cooper, Sr.
Irene H. Dobbins
Brenda O. Mabe
Robert G. Snow

TYRELL

Basil T. Cahoon

UNION

George S. Crook
C. Lynn Eubanks

Edwina Eubanks
Roy S. Helms
Helen Lowder

H.B. Biggers, Jr.

Mildred Austin

Evelyn Biggers

Hester Ross

John Biggers
Mrs. Tom McCollum

VANCE

William R. Alston
John Bullock
Kate Taylor Bullock
Mrs. Lucy R. Burwell
Mrs. Sylvia Cawthorne

Joan Cawthorne

Knott Cawthorne

Gwen Mclnnis
Thurston T. Coghill
Peter D. Coghill
Ethel W. Crews

Irene Woodlief
Mrs. Nellie B. Crews
B. Mac Crews
Mr. Albert H. Crews

Mrs. Albert H. Crews

Mrs. Evelyn C. Burroughs
George T. Dickie II
Dorothy Wiggins Ellis
Mrs. David P. Evans
Charles B. Finch, Jr.
Marshall M. Floyd
Louise Dickie Formyduval
Charlie U. LeMay
Agnes Dickie Long
Joe D. Mabry, Jr.
Jane Dickie McGlaughon
Mrs. W.L. Moss
V.E. Rawles, Jr.
Junius W. Rogers, Jr.
Walter R. Rogers
Edward G. Rogers
Thelma B. Satterwhite
W.M. Spain
Mrs. Hazel W.Steagall

Mrs. Helen W. Finch
Olivia Taylor
Betty B. Tucker

George N. Tucker III
Mabel G. Wade
William W. White, Jr.

Charles M. White
Myrtle S. Woodlief
Mrs. Mildred S. Wortham

WAKE

Cora C. Bailey
Mrs. L.Y. Ballentine
Susan L. Burroughs
Elmer C. Burt
Dewey Corbin
H. Harold Cotton
A. Winstead Dove
Isabelle B. Fish

Rufus T. Fish
J.R. Fowler, Jr.
Ernest Greene

Sally Greene

Gibsonville
Raleigh
Dobson
Elkin

Pilot Mountain
Dobson

Columbia

Monroe
Monroe

Monroe
Charlotte

Monroe

Henderson

Raleigh

Henderson

Oxford

Henderson

Henderson
Henderson
Henderson

Henderson
Henderson
Henderson

Henderson

Henderson

Henderson

Henderson

Henderson

Henderson

Henderson

Henderson

Henderson

Henderson

Kittrell

Henderson

Henderson

Henderson

Franklinton

Henderson

Henderson

Kittrell

Chapel Hill
Henderson

Henderson
Manson

Kittrell
Henderson

Wake Forest

Raleigh

Raleigh

Fuquay-Varina
Franklin
Fuquay-Varina
Willow Springs
Wilson

Zebulon
Raleigh

Century Farm Owners

Robert E. Horton
Titus M. Jones
Mrs. Grace C. Kilkelly
Mitchell L. Lawrence
Emily R. Merntt
Mrs. Maude S. Morrow
Felcie O'Briant
R. Louis Pearce, Sr.
Herman C. Pearce, Sr.
Mrs. J. Wesley Perry, Sr.
Mrs. Lizzie E. Powell
William Powell

Naomi Powell

Annie Powell
Vivian J. Shearon
Charles Hinton Silver
John Smart

Gertrude Smart
Mrs. Robbie J. Smith
F.D. Sorrell

Allen Sorell

A.L. Sorrell

J.D. Denning

W.E. Denning

W.R. Denning, Jr.
R.A. Stevens
Katharine J. Watson
Mrs. Bailey P. Williamson

WARREN

William Robert Alston
Mr. Max D. Ballinger

Mrs. Max D. Ballinger
Raleigh Esters Gordon
James A. Hayes, Jr.
Ellen P. Perkinson
E. Cliff Robertson
Willie T. Robinson
W.F. Rooker (heirs)
Patricia Alston Scott

William Edward Alston
Albert Seaman
Mrs. J.L. Skinner

William T. Skinner
Mary E. Walker Taylor

WASHINGTON

W.T. Holmes
W.W. Mizell

WATAUGA

Mrs. Thomas J. Banner
Paul Braswell

Ruth Braswell
Maxine Bradley Burrows
Mary Margery Coler
Robert Orville Jackson
David P. Mast, Sr.
Guy H. Norris
Josephine B. Reid
Ira D. Shull

WAYNE

Lucile R. Andrews

Andrews Farms of Wayne Co., Inc.
Karl M. Best
Mrs. Mabel S. Daughtry
Bernice G. Davis
John R. Deans
Jesse R. Denning

Billy H. Denning
Pearl D. Denning
Sedalia Smith Green
Edna W. Hinson
Charles T. Hooks, Sr.
Mrs. Mary Grady Jones
Nina B. Joyner
L.H. Lane

William H. Lane, Jr.
John L. Pippin
James N. Price
Arthur Raymond

Zebulon

Raleigh

Zebulon

Fuquay-Varina

Wake Forest

Raleigh

Raleigh

Rolesville

Wake Forest

Zebulon

Wake Forest

Middlesex

Raleigh
Raleigh
Holly Springs

Fuquay-Varina
Benson

Garner
Raleigh
Knightdale

Henderson
Warrenton

Pinnacle

Norlina

Wise

Macon

Macon

Norlina

Henderson

Norlina
Littleton

Norlina

Creswell
Roper

Vilas
Vilas

Franklinville
Camarillo, CA
Boone

Sugar Grove
Boone
Lenoir
Banner Elk

Goldsboro

Goldsboro
Mount Olive
Fremont
Goldsboro
Four Oaks

Mount Olive

Fremont

Seven Springs

Fremont

Goldsboro

Mount Olive

Stantonsburg

Fremont

Fremont

Seven Springs

Wilmington

Currie H. Smith
J. Edgar Taylor
Ivan Westbrook

Margaret Westbrook
Louise Williams
Mrs. John N. Wolfe

WILKES

Lois Bass
Claude D. Billings
Thomas W. Ferguson
Finley L. German
Gwyn Hayes

Elva K. Hayes
Mrs. Violet J. Miller
Mrs. D.F. Payne
Joy Belle Foster Payne
Leeman Bronson Walls

Lucy Sparks Walls

WILSON

Joseph E. Adkins
Frank M. Barnes
Mrs. J.R. Boykin, Jr.
Douglas W. Braswell

Dorothy L. Braswell
Sally F. Cook

Clarence D. Cook
J.B. Etheridge Estate
Marvin E. Evans
Elgia Scott Farrior
Hugh Buckner Johnston
J. Russell Kirby
William Kirby (heirs)
Ivey A. Lamm, Jr.
J.C. Langley, Jr.
Jack H. Liles
Charles H. Phillips
Beulah P. Price
Marvin L. Robbins
Carl S. Smith
Curtis L. Thomas
Travis Thompson
Redmond Thurman Thorne
Daniel Whitley, Sr.
Dora Williford
Mrs. Wyatt C. Yelverton

YADKIN

Mervin K. Barron
E.H. Cooper

Betty Poindexter Cooper
Ralph S. Dobbins
Mrs. Fannie S. Doub
Lucy Brendle Hinshaw
John W. Long, Jr.
Paul Matthews
W. Bryce Reavis
Flora B. Scott

O.C. Scott
Dale Thomason
Paul Windsor
Thad A. Wiseman

Claude G. Wiseman

Mt. Olive
Fremont
Four Oaks

Goldsboro
Mt. Olive

Lucama

Traphill

Ferguson

Lenoir

Elkin

Millers Creek
Boomer
Boomer
Ronda

Wilson
Lucama
Wilson
Rocky Mount

Lucama

Wilson

Wilson

Kenly

Wilson

Wilson

Kenly

Lucama

Elm City

Bailey

Bailey

Kenly

Rocky Mount

Wilson

Wilson

Stantonsburg

Elm City

Stantonsburg

Macclesfield

Fremont

Hamptonville
East Bend

Elkin
East Bend
Yadkinville
East Bend
East Bend
Yadkinville
East Bend

Hamptonville
Hamptonville
Yadkinville

40

Century Farm Family
Histories

41

Alamance

Alamance County

THE ALDRIDGE FARM

The family tradition is that Susan A.
Aldridge and her son, William (Bill) Harrison
Aldridge, came from England. They settled in
the Union Ridge community, Faucette
Township, Alamance County, North Caroli-
na about 1850.

The Aldridges have lived in Alamance County since
1850.

William married Nancy Benton Crawford.
From this union five children were born.

The Aldridge house was built circa 1871 by
William Aldridge, who was deeded 65 acres of
land in consideration that he provide for and
support his mother-in-law during her natural
life.

William was a true farmer, using up-to-date
methods and keeping his land in a high state
of cultivation. In later years when the soil con-
servation was terracing the land, they were
amazed at the terraces they found on the
Aldridge farm.

In 1882, William Aldridge built a store at
the crossroads near the center of Union
Ridge. In that day this was one of the largest
trading centers in the northern part of the
county. Here people came from far and wide
to do their trading. One of the features of the
store was the handling of tobacco scraps.
Union Ridge post office was a part of the gen-
eral store for many years. The store was oper-
ated by members of the Aldridge family for
many years.

Following William's death in 1 903, his son,
Charles Phillip Aldridge, bought the two hun-
dred acre farm from the other children with
the understanding the mother would stay
with him in the homeplace. Charles died at
the age of fifty leaving the farm to his wife,
Lessie Lea Garrison Aldridge, who kept the
farm going.

In 1 947, Charles' son, Charles (Bill) Manley
Aldridge, bought the farm from his mother.

Following the death of Charles M. Aldridge
in 1977, his son, James Phillip Aldridge, and
his wife, Helen, and daughter, Anne, moved
to the homeplace.

The Aldridge farm holds the second oldest
Farm Bureau number in the state. Farming
has been a way of life for the Aldridge family
for many generations and it is the aim of this
generation to keep tradition alive as they hon-
or and conserve the farm.

Submitted by James P. Aldridge

THE ALLEN FARM

The century farm I now own is located in
the Snow Camp community. It was a grant to
my great-great-grandfather, John Allen, Jr.,
in 1756 by Lord Granville of the Lords Pro-
prietors.

The John Allen housecan be faintly made out behind
the tree in the yard of the current house.

The Allen family had emigrated from Ire-
land to Pennsylvania in the early 1 700s. From
family tradition my great-great-great-
grandfather, John Allen, Sr., visited Carolina
in 1750 or 1751, and applied for a grant of
land. He returned to Pennsylvania, became ill
and died in 1 754 before the grant was validat-
ed. The grant, therefore, was made to his old-
est son, John Allen, Jr., who with his mother,
three sisters and two brothers came to Caroli-
na around 1760. The 90 acres now left con-
tains the original homesite and has never
been deeded out of the Allen name.

The Aliens were Quakers and it was a Quak-
er settlement. Therefore, there were no slaves
ever. It has been a diversified activity; grain,
produce, cattle, sheep at times, hogs and poul-
try. The soil was not suitable for cotton or
tobacco. No tobacco would have been grown
anyway because of their commitment to their
Quaker beliefs.

A deep religious faith and a strong belief in
and support of education was typical of the
Allen families. Also, the men were fine crafts-
men for their day. John Allen, Jr. taught
school for many years. He also handcrafted
many pieces of high quality furniture for the
house. William Allen farmed heavily, the
homeplace and two farms in Randolph Coun-
ty. He also kept store at the home, obtaining
his supplies from the riverport at Fayetteville
by ox drawn wagons.

William Graham Allen returned home
after serving in the War Between the States
and apprenticed for Millwright and Cabinet
Maker status. He followed this vocation on an
"as needed basis" in conjunction with farm-
ing.

George Lester Allen as a youth began work-
ing in the infant textile industry in the area. As
a young adult he married and settled in the
home community and began farming the
homeplace while continuing working at the
Woolen Mill during the winter. In 1910 he
moved the family to the Allen Farm so he
could better take care of his aging father. The
Woolen Mill was burned in 1912 and was not
rebuilt. He then turned to carpentry for sup-
plemental income as conditions permitted.

By the time my generation reached maturi-
ty, the farming revolution had begun and
there was no way a 100 acre farm could sup-

port two families. Realizing this, all five boys
went into public work. From the late 1940s
when my father had to give it up until 1972,
the land was rented to neighbors who were
still operating as family farmers. In 1972 the
open land was turned to pasture and until
1 983 I ran beef cattle on it. It is now rented to
a dairyman for pasture.

At the homesite there is a spring that has
never gone dry in the 225 years it has been in
use. In fact in two of the very dry years of the
late 1 920s three of us working in a water line
tried to dip it dry but failed.

Also there is a section of about 1 5-20 acres
of woodland that according to word passed
down has never been under plow.

In the 1 960s, the North Carolina Historical
Society was assisting the Alamance County
Historical Society in developing a Memorial
Park on the Alamance Battleground site.
They were looking for a typical log house of
colonial days to place on the grounds. The sec-
ond house on the Allen farm built by John
Allen, Jr. in 1782 was still standing and well
enough preserved to be restored. This is the
log house that can be seen at the park today.

Our story is not sensational, but it is valid
history of an era that is only a memory.

Submitted by George C. Allen, Sr.

THE BRAXTON FARM

When William Braxton, the first Braxton
in this area of North Carolina, was settling on
the old Braxton homeplace in the 1 750s, fam-
ily records indicate there were Indians still in
the area with wigwams on the hills above the
family spring which the Indians used also as
their source of water.

During the Revolutionary War, Tory sol-
diers raided the larder of Thomas Braxton's
home, the old home place, eating the week's
supply of bread and butter. Mary McPherson
Braxton, daughter-in-law of William the
Planter, saved the horses by driving them into
the woods. She saved the pewter ware and
other valuables by tossing them through a
trap door in the floor, then she spread a quilt
over the floor on which she placed a baby. The
soldiers carefully avoided the quilt area. The
earliest document we have pertaining to this
farm now owned by Howard T. Braxton, is a
surveyor's plan representing "a tract of land
surveyed for William Braxon on the south
side of Haw River and Cane Creek on Piney
Branch." It contains 262 acres of land which
was surveyed in 1 756.

The second document, a grant of land to
William Braxton, is an indenture made
between John Earle Granville, Viscount Car-
teret, Baron Carteret, of Hawnes in the coun-
ty of Bedford in the kingdom of Great Britain
of one part and William Braxon of Orange
(now Alamance) county in the province of
North Carolina, Planter of the other part in
which for ten shillings John Earl Granville
granted William Braxon 262 acres of land
lying in the Parish of St. Luke in the County of
Orange near Cane Creek on Piney Branch.
This indenture is dated January 1 , 1761.

The original 262 acres have been handed
down from father to son according to the fol-
lowing lineage:

William Braxton, died 1 77 1 : to son Thom-
as (1745-1815): to son John (1782-1860): to
son Hiram Braxton (1741-1926) to son John
Hiram Braxton (1882-1955): to son Howard

Alamance

Taft Braxton (1908), the present owner and
occupant of part of the original 262 acres. By
terms of a will this land will be inherited by
the son of Howard Taft Braxton whose name
is Howard Taft Braxton, Jr. Thus there will be
seven generations of continuous ownership
and occupancy of land granted by John Earl
Granville to William Braxton in 1761 by the
direct descendants of William, the Planter.

The original home place was a log cabin of
which only the remains of the stone founda-
tion and the stone chimney can possibly be
identified.

The crops produced through the more than
200 years of history are corn, cotton, cows,
garden products, hay, hogs, oats, rye, timber,
tobacco and wheat. The farm buildings locat-
ed on the farm are a frame house with two-
stories, a dairy barn, a granary, a garage, a
smoke house and a tobacco barn (now col-
lapsed). The farm also had dairying and agri-
cultural products such as cotton and tobacco,
and gold mining which was popular over a
century ago but has renewed interest and
activity in the last two years.

Submitted by Wilbert L. Braxton

THE DANIELEY FARM

The first time John Danieley, Sr. shows up
in the Orange County (Alamance County was
a part of Orange until 1849) records is June
1 0, 1 779, when he applied for a land grant of
250 acres of both sides of Jacob's creek which
is southwest of today's Bethel Church in Mor-
ton Township, Alamance county. Once you
applied for a grant, you had to meet certain
requirements before you would receive title
to the land, i.e., improvements to the land and
loyalty to the Crown during the Revolution-
ary period. John Sr. met these requirements
and received his title on November 9, 1 788.

if*

Jesse J. Danieley and group, including his daugh-
ter, Beulah Kay Short, wearing cap, tying tobacco.

James Danieley was the father of John Sr.
Family tradition is that he came to this area
from Maryland.

Other Danieley men received grants and
settled in the Jacob's Creek area. The Danie-
ley Century Farm is part of the 250 acre grant
to John, Sr. and his descendants since 1788.

John Danieley, Sr. operated a government
whiskey distillery, a blacksmith shop and a

woodworking shop as well as farmed. His
1 827 and 1 828 tax bills were $ 1 .40 each year.

In 1807 John Danieley, Sr. and his wife,
Nancy, gave one and a half acres of land from
their farm to the Methodist Episcopal Church
(Frances Ashbury Bishop) for a meeting
house, graveyard and spring. This is the pres-
ent Bethel United Methodist Church.

George Albert Danieley (born September 8,
1 873, died May 23, 1 959) was a fifth genera-
tion Danieley to farm the land. He inherited
his father's share and this is now owned by the
Jesse J. Danieley family.

Jesse J. Danieley (born October 10, 1910,
died February 10, 1987) and his grandson,
Jesse Gwynn, farmed the land in 1986 and
1987. Jesse Danieley died in February 1987.
The grandson is fifteen years old and along
with going to school, he raised a crop of oats
and has 30 acres ready for fall planting. He is
the eighth generation to farm the land.

Jesse Danieley always farmed. Along with
the Danieley grant, he owned and farmed
land that his great-great grandfather, Chris-
tian Iseley, farmed in the late 1700s. He was
always interested in good farm machinery. He
had his own blacksmith shop and did much of
his own repairs. He operated a combine for
forty-nine years, bought the first combine,
first automatic hay baler, first tobacco tying
machine and first irrigation outfit in the com-
munity.

At the time of his death, he was president of
Alamance County Farm Bureau, a member of
the North Carolina Farm Bureau Board, vice-
president of Alamance Farmers Mutual
Insurance Company, a member of the North
Carolina Board of Agriculture and on the
board of the Alamance County Historical
Museum.

For fifty years, he collected artifacts. They
are on display in his great-great grandfather's,
Christian Iseley, cabin which is joined to the
Jesse J. Danieley home.

Jesse always said, "I never left home." He
always lived in the home his father built in
1902. The family plans to continue farming
the land. Submitted by Rena Maude Danieley

THE FRESHWATER FARM

The first Freshwater on record was Rich-
ard, born in 1 256. A later Richard who died in
1614 was Lord of the Manor at Heybridge
Hall, in Essex Co., England. The manor was
restored and opened to tourists in 1973. The
first one known to migrate to America was
George, who came here on ship "Southey Lit-
tleberry" in 1655. He settled in Eastville,

The home of Edward K. Freshwater's grandparents,
David and Annie Freshwater, built in c. 1836.

Northampton, Virginia, on the Chesapeake
Bay, not far north of Norfolk.

John was born in Virginia in 1712 and died
in 1 754. His son, William Armstead Freshwa-
ter, lived in the Camden-Elizabeth city area.
William Armstead and his family moved to
Orange County in 1799. He is listed in "A
History of Alamance" by Stockard as being
the last purchaser from the Lord Granville
grant. Records at Hillsboro show that at the
time of his death he owned 1600 acres, lying
on the banks of Mill Creek. Of this, the 35
acres I own is all that remains in the Freshwa-
ter name.

The "Spoon" map ( 1 890) of Orange Coun-
ty shows the home of Henry Freshwater and
nearby is "Freshwater Shops." Two of the
brothers operated the shops. One was a black-
smith and the other was a wheelwright. The
two of them took care of transportation prob-
lems in the community. They made their own
charcoal on the site. Until recent years most
of the family were farmers or mechanics.

Farming in those days was not specialized
and consisted mostly of producing those
things necessary to support the family and
animals necessary for farm life, perhaps sell-
ing the surplus, if any.

My grandmother and my father or uncle
made a trip every week to Haw River. We car-
ried a wagon load of vegetables, fruit, milk
and butter to sell house to house. On the way
home we bought a week's supply of staples at
Mr. Cameron Tew's store and then stopped at
Mr. John Baker's store in Trollingwood. In
addition to the trip, if lucky, I was able to get
my uncle or father to buy a cone of ice cream
or a bottle of Nehi or NuGrape at Mr. Baker's
store.

Another source of cash income was selling
stove wood. My father believed that the
horses should rest when not doing farm work,
so he walked five miles to Graham and visited
various homes until he found one that needed
wood. He had a few regular customers. He
then walked home and next day walked two
miles to our wood lot. He cut and split the
wood into pieces about fifteen inches long,
loaded it on a wagon and delivered it all for a
price of $3.50!!

Another big day was my trips to Durham
and Raleigh on the milk truck. One of the two
or three dairies in our area belonged to Mr.
Bob Long, near Alexander Wilson School. He
had a herd of fine Jersey cows. The processors
in Raleigh and Durham paid the producer
according to the amount of butter fat on the
milk. The more the better, because butter was
so valued for cooking and baking. Jersey cows
produced lower quantities but much higher
test milk than Holsteins.

Mr. Long's two sons, Earnest and Walter,
did most of the farm work and Walter drove
a Graham-Paige truck to Raleigh every day.
Most farms had one or two cows for their own
use and some produced five to fifteen gallons
extra per day. There were no sanitation
requirements but before we quit selling milk,
the state required a TB test for cows. I often
rode with Walter on his trip. When we
unloaded at the Pine State Creamery he
always came out with a large slab of ice cream
for me.

This land is now used mostly for a horse
pasture. Submitted by E.K. Freshwater

THE GIBSON FARM

In 1874, Joseph Shaw Gibson began oper-
ating the family farm which is located in the
Melville township of Alamance County. The
address is Route L, Mebane and the commu-
nity is known as Hawfields. The farm consists
of 78.5 acres of fertile red soil located in the
Piedmont section of the state. Five springs are
located on the property. They feed the stream
that runs through the farm, making for a good
source of water.

Joseph Shaw Gibson and his second wife, Susan Gib-
son on the Gibson farm in Alamance County.

Four generations of the family have lived
on and operated the farm. The operators of
the farm have been Joseph Shaw Gibson
(1874-1919); Robert William Gibson (1920-
1 937); Lula Holmes Gibson Rowland ( 1 938-
1 975); and Robert William Gibson, Jr. ( 1 976-
to present).

The original dwelling, still in use, was reno-
vated in 1969 and still has much of the origi-
nal clapboard heart pine exterior siding. The
other buildings that exist today are the garage,
pump house, smoke house, wash house,
chicken house, green house, granary, cattle
and hay barn, calf shed and equipment shed.
The old sheep house was converted to a green
house in 1976. Buildings which have been
demolished on the farm include the hog hous-
es, mill house, cellar house, brooder house,
blacksmith shop and buggy shed.

For many of the early years the farm opera-
tion was self-sufficient. Hogs were raised for
food and for market. Sheep were raised for
food and for market. Wool from the sheep was
sold and also used by the family for blankets
and clothing. Cattle provided milk, butter
and meat for the family and for market.
Chickens provided eggs and meat for the fam-
ily and for market. A vegetable garden, straw-
berry patch and orchard provided the vegeta-
bles and fruit needed. When sugar, salt,
pepper, spices and other household items
were needed, barter was employed by taking
eggs, milk and butter to a community store in
Trollingwood for exchange. Grain was raised
for farm and family use and also for market.

Until 1937, the farm had a mill house with
a grist and hammermill. It was for family use
and also provided services to other people in
the community.

The operation of the farm has changed
drastically since its early years. The farm pres-
ently produces orchard grass and fescue hay

Alamance

for use and sale. A herd of Charolais and Her-
efords graze the rolling pastures and produce
beef and calves for market. Part of the farm
has been planted in trees for future harvest-
ing. A vegetable garden and orchard are main-
tained. Submitted by Robert William Gibson, Jr.

THE INGLE FARM

Prior to 1875, Rufus W. Ingle operated a
flour mill in southeast Guilford county. After
the inheritance of the property from his
father-in-law, he moved to the farm in Ala-
mance County. He later acquired the proper-
ties of several of the other children of Daniel
Rich and other adjoining lands.

His son, Ernest C. Ingle, married Bell Clen-
denin and lived in the homestead and reared
six children: Prince Ernest, Lura, Koy Clen-
denin, Rufus Clyde, Leta, and Fred Dewitt.
Ernest raised small grain for feed and seed
and was later joined in a partnership by Koy,
Clyde and Fred. This was accomplished
despite the fact that he lost his right hand in a
farm accident in 1905, when his first child
was only two years old.

Koy C. Ingle married Susan E. Amick in
1935. This marriage resulted in three chil-
dren: George Ernest, Edwin Coy, and Marga-
ret Sue. Koy is still active on the farm and his
son, George Ernest, is presently living on the
farm. Submitted by Edwin Coy Ingle

THE PICKETT FARM

Isaac Sharpe (1795-1 878) owned the farm
before and during the Civil War. His only
child, Boston Sharpe, was killed in the war
and Henry Green Nicholson (1838-1932),
nephew of Isaac Sharpe, moved in with Isaac
and cared for him until his death in 1878.
Henry G. Nicholson, fought in the Civil War.
He wrote a letter home saying that he would
be so glad when the war ended so that he could
get home and farm. He wanted to grow corn
and wheat. At that time the farm contained
384 acres with many wooded arp^c

L to R: Howard A. Pickett, Charles Lynn Pickett,
and Dennis Lynn Pickett, father, son, and grandson
respectively.

Henry G. and Margaret Vestal Nicholson
had five children (three sons and two daugh-
ters). Neither of the sons ever married. The
daughters were willed 42 acres each which left
300 acres for the sons. The sons lived at the
homeplace and farmed the 300 acres until
they sold 100+ acres. They continued to live
at the homeplace and farm the remaining
acreage until their deaths. The oldest died in
1 942, the next in 1 964, and youngest in 1 969.

Howard A. Pickett bought the farm in 1 966
from the youngest of the three (Charles Nich-

olson). Howard's son, Charles Lynn Pickett,
is now doing some cattle and corn farming
and some of the acreage is planted in Loblolly
Pine Trees.

The farmhouse has four rooms, a large hall-
way and two porches. A bathroom was built in
1 964. The house was built about 1 885. Before
the house was built, a log house was used as
the dwelling. This log house still stands and
was used as a kitchen and living room until
1958. No one knows the age of the log house.

Submitted by Howard A. Pickett

THE ZACHARY FARM

Our farm is located in the southern part of
Alamance County. It is on the historical Cane
Creek. Our farm consists of 200 acres which is
mostly red clay with a small amount of white
land where my great-grandfather used to grow
tobacco. My great-grandfather was the son of
Jonathon Zachary, born April 24, 1795 and
died September 28, 1880. My grandfather
was born December 19, 1855 and died Sep-
tember 28, 1 924. He had eleven children (five
boys and six girls).

George Zachary

He farmed for a living and was recorded as
a Quaker preacher in 1 902. He never received
any money for preaching, but preached for
the love of God and mankind.

He first lived in a log house that was located
on a branch with a spring. All of the children
were born in this house except two. The pres-
ent house which is a two-story frame house
was built in 1901. During that time, cotton
was the money crop and a small amount of
tobacco. The other crops were corn, wheat,
oats and enough hay for livestock. A cane
patch for molasses and a large garden brought
very little income.

Six of my grandfather's children attended
Guilford College and three of them graduat-
ed. It cost very little to go to college; since my
grandfather was a Quaker preacher and Guil-
ford College was a Quaker college, they got
their tuition free.

I had one uncle that they called great in Ala-
mance County. His name was Tom Zachary.
He went directly from Guilford College to the
major league. He pitched from 1918 until
1 936. During that time he won three games in
the World Series. While he was pitching for
the Washington Senators, the famous Babe
Ruth hit his 60th home run off him. He would
send money back home to help with the farm.

My father, George Zachary, operated the
farm from 1930 until 1960. I started operat-
ing the farm in the year of 1 960. At that time
I had forty cows and raised corn, soybeans
and grain for grinding feed.

Now my wife, Janet, and I operate the farm
under a much larger scale. We have added
more cows and also a poultry farm which con-
sists of 58,800 layers. We have two children
who help when they have time. Our son is a
sophomore at Elon College, he also is a base-
ball pitcher. Our daughter is a freshman in
high school. We are hoping that the farm stays
in the family and operates another century.
We have enjoyed farming and hope to contin-
ue to do so. Submitted by George Zachary Jr.

Alexander County

THE ALEXANDER FARM

The Alexander farm has been in the posses-
sion of the Alexander family since 1 760 when
a land grant was acquired from Lord Granvil-
le of England. The four hundred acre land
grant located on Elk Shoals Creek in Alexan-
der County has been in the Alexander posses-
sion continuously for six generations. Addi-
tional acres have been added to the farm.

Atwell and Pauline Hill Alexander in front of their
home.

Atwell Alexander, a former member of the
North Carolina State Board of Agriculture for
eighteen years, is the present owner along
with his two sisters.

Atwell owned and operated a poultry farm
business here for forty-six years along with
beef cattle. In 1980, he retired from poultry
but continues to raise beef cattle.

The Alexander farm was one of the early
tree farms in North Carolina and continues to
be so operated.

Atwell's father, James William Alexander,
operated the acreage primarily as a cotton
farm with corn and small grain grown for the
use of the farm tenants and their livestock.

During the depression years of the 1930s,
James William passed away and the farm
slowly changed to poultry, beef cattle, and
timber production under Atwell Alexander.

The Alexander family looks forward to the
time when the three grandchildren will con-
trol the Alexander farm.

Submitted by Atwell Alexander

THE REESE FARM

On January 7, 1845, Franklin B. Reese (b.
May 24, 1821 d. Oct. 15, 1901) bought 198
acres from Wiley Gaither for $400.00. The
land was located in Caldwell County at that
time but, later, in 1847, became Alexander

A la ma nee — A lexander — A lleghany

County. Then, in 1870, Franklin B. Reese
bought 1 00 acres from his brother-in-law, Elie
Dela, for $200.00. Later, in 1879, he let his
two sons have 50 acres each. The younger of
the two sons, William Jacob Reese, was only
1 5 years old at the time. On March 1 4, 1 895,
Franklin B. Reese deeded William J. Reese (b.
May 23, 1864-d. Jan. 4, 1938) 162 acres and
the youngest daughter, Jane Mays, 20 acres.
Along with this deed, a lifetime right went to
his father. On May 4, 1935, William J. Reese
sold Clarence Reese (b. February 26, 1913)8
acres for $200.00. Around 1940, the rest of
the place was divided between William
Reese's children. Fifty acres were left to Molly
Reese (b. Jan. 11,1 879-d. Oct. 31,1 973) as a
dowery which was later divided between her
eight surviving children after her death in
1973. Of these 50 acres, my father, Clarence
Reese, got 6.5 acres more.

On April 3, 1981, my father, Clarence,
deeded to me, Coy (b. Sept. 23,1 944) 3 1 acres
on which he has a lifetime right. On this land,
my wife, Wanda, and I own and operate a very
successful dairy farm where we have a fine
herd of Jersey cows — approximately 90
milking cows and 60 heifers. Many of our
cows receive top production and butterfat
awards of which we are very proud. Much of
our time is dedicated to caring for the dairy,
but we still have time to spend with our two
daughters, Candace, age 3, and Joy, age 2. As
it is obvious, farming has been a part of our
family in years past and hopefully will be for
years to come. Submitted by Coy Reese

THE SIPE FARM

In November 1871, Noah Sipe (September
27, 1822-December 29, 1899), bought 265
acres of land from Eli Deal for $650.

In December, 1 883, Noah Sipe sold his son,
Monroe (March 30, 1851-March 30, 1934),
42 acres on which he built a house and raised
six sons and Five daughters. One daughter,
Fannie, is still living and celebrated her 1 00th
birthday in October, 1986.

As the years passed, Monroe added more
land to his original 42 and was able to leave
each of his eleven children and one grand-
daughter, 1 3 acres or there about.

Monroe's daughter, Mollie Sipe Reese
(January 11,1 879-October 31,1 973), inherit-
ed 1 3 acres of this land in 1 927 and sold it to
hergrandson. Dale P. Reese, in 1 970. In 1 974,
Dale bought 13 more acres of the Sipe land
from Marie Sipe Teague, a granddaughter of
Monroe Sipe. Then in 1985, Dale bought 13
acres of the Sipe land from the Ida Sipe Jolly
estate. Ida was also a granddaughter of Mon-
roe Sipe.

The majority of these 39 acres and adjoin-
ing 25 acres are farmed as grassland.

Dale operates a sawmill business and most
of the grassland is rented to his brother, Coy,
who is a dairy farmer.

Submitted by Dale P. Reese

THE TEAGUE FARM

A tract of land was purchased by Vandiver
Washington Teague and his father-in-law,
Simon Cline, in 1879, and additional tracts
were bought in the 1880s, located in Witten-
burg Township, Alexander County, near
Mountain Creek.

The Vandiver W. Teague family about 1902.

So that a spring would be included in Van's
tract, an irregular line was drawn between the
two tracts. Before building a house, Van
found a stronger spring elsewhere.

After cutting trees, sawing and hand dress-
ing the lumber. Van built a two-room house
on a hill near the stronger spring in 1 886. Pri-
or to 1 896 he added four more rooms. Some-
one has lived in the house continuously to the
present.

A well was dug in 1914 and the porch was
extended around the well. Later a pump was
installed and the well was left open. Many still
enjoy drawing water from it. REA began sup-
plying power to this area in 1 948, which made
more conveniences possible in the home.

Van and Lydia Cline Teague were the par-
ents of Leroy, Minnie, Charlie, Ola, Everette,
Alice, Bertha, and Lelia.

On the farm Van and his family grew cot-
ton, wheat, rye, corn, vegetables, apples, and
animals to provide food and farm labor.

In 1923, Lelia and her husband, Theodore
Benjamin Wagner, moved into the house with
her father and took over most of the farming
responsibilities. When Van died in 1931,
Lelia and Theodore inherited forty-two acres
and bought twenty-five acres from the other
heirs. When Theodore became disabled in
1970, neighbors rented the farm through
1987.

Theodore died October 1977, and Lelia,
February 1 987. The land has now been divid-
ed among their children: Emilyn, Rachel,
Frank, Carl and Oren. Emilyn Wagner and
Rachel Wagner inherited the house and twen-
ty-seven acres of land. They will continue liv-
ing in the house and gardening the same spot
used since 1 886.

Submitted by Miss Emilyn U 'agner

Alleghany County

THE DOUGHTON FARM

Joseph Doughton was the progenitor of the
North Carolina branch of the Doughton fami-
ly. Around 1791 or 1 792, he became a mem-
ber of a surveying party and was sent to clarify
the line between Virginia and North Caroli-
na. As he stood on a ridge above the New Riv-
er, which later became his home, he probably
had various thoughts concerning his ances-
tors.

Joseph became ill with typhoid fever and
was taken in by Lieutenant George Reeves
and his family. He fell in love with their
daughter, Mary, and later married her. After
his marriage, he decided to settle on a ridge
above New River. The oldest deed found in
his name was State of North Carolina land

45

Charles H. Dough ton (Dec. 23, 180 3- Jan. 28, 1903)

grant #464 for 1 00 acres for 1 00 shillings dat-
ed 17th of June 1798.

In 1 800 the federal census showed the fami-
ly to consist of three boys under 10, one girl
under 10, Joseph and Mary, and one slave. In
1810, there were four sons, five daughters,
Joseph and Mary, and three slaves. Apparent-
ly Joseph was a well to do farmer and listed as
a big real estate man. His name appears on
nineteen different deeds on file dated
between 1798 and 1830.

Among Joseph and Mary Doughton's chil-
dren was Charles Horton born December 23,
1803. He was the great grandfather of Dick
Doughton now living on the farm in Alleg-
hany County.

Joseph Doughton, the pioneer of the
Doughton family in North Carolina died July
1 1, 1832.

Charles Horton Doughton married Marga-
ret Cox Reeves and they had three children,
Fleming, Jesse and Joseph Bain, who was the
grandfather of Dick Doughton.

Uncle Charlie as he was called was elected
county surveyor of Ashe County before either
Watauga or Alleghany were created. He was
one of the commissioners who established the
boundaries of Alleghany County and assisted
in selecting both Boone and Sparta as the sites
for the respective counties. The First Method-
ist Church in Alleghany County was orga-
nized at his home and one of his sons, Joseph
Bain, became a Methodist minister. He died
January 28, 1903.

Joseph Bain was born in 1840 and died in
1911. He married Martha A. Gentry and they
had four children. Joseph Marvin, one of the
sons, was the father of Dick Doughton, pres-
ently living on the farm.

Dick Doughton married Ella Edwards.
They had three children who were raised on
the farm. Richard L. Doughton now a practic-
ing attorney in Alleghany County, Susan
Evans, a teacher in the county school system,
and Joseph Edwards Doughton, assistant
branch manager for Ford Motor Credit Cor-
poration in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Joseph Marvin, father of Dick Doughton,
married Pocohontas Reeves and they lived on
the farm and raised five children. They
moved to Sparta in order for the children to
attend school.

This farm is nestled in a curve of the New
River now recognized as the second oldest
river in the world and in the heart of the beau-

Alleghany — Anson

tiful Blue Ridge Mountains.

Submitted by W. Dick Doughton

THE MOXLEY FARM

This Laurel Springs, North Carolina Cen-
tury Farm has been a part of Alleghany Coun-
ty since its establishment in 1859. About
1 850, Pinkney Lewis bought part of this prop-
erty from Abram Evans. He later shared it
with his stepson, J. Horton Doughton. They
added more acreage in a short time.

Home and part of the farm in Alleghany County that
belongs to Elizabeth Moxley.

J. Horton Doughton married Rebecca
Jones in 1 855. They made their home in a log
house on this property. By the time Horton
went to serve in the Civil War, three children
were born. Pinkney Lewis helped Rebecca
maintain the home and kept the farm going
with cattle, sheep and a few hogs.

After a year of service, Horton was wound-
ed and came back to Alleghany as captain of
the Home Guard. In 1 872 they built the pres-
ent home where they reared eight children.

Horton purchased a tract of land from a
Mr. Anderson on the crest of the Blue Ridge
Mountains. Cattle were grazed and hay pro-
duced during the summer on this property.
Years later, the mountain property was given
to two sons, Robert and Frank. They kept this
land for years, using it as their father had. In
1934, the land was sold to the National Park
Service and is now part of the Blue Ridge
Parkway. At present, this is known as Dough-
ton Park.

At the death of Horton Doughton in 1905,
his son, Frank, inherited part of the home-
place at Laurel Springs. He maintained this
property, using it for growing corn, rye and
grasses for livestock on the farm.

In 1950, Frank Doughton sold the farm.
Fifty acres of the homeplace, including the
home, were sold to Dr. Robert Miller, a
grandson of J. Horton Doughton. In 1952,
Dr. Miller sold the property to his sister Eliza-
beth Miller Moxley and husband Thomas.
Since Mr. Moxley's death in 1964, Elizabeth
has maintained and preserved the two-story
white frame house surrounded by maples,
bordering N.C. 1 8. The acreage is kept in use
by grazing cattle, making hay and growing
timber.

The family farm will be maintained by the
Moxley Family for generations to come.

Submitted by Mrs. Elizabeth M. Moxley

THE WEAVER FARM

William Henry Weaver was born 1853 at
Scottville, Alleghany County, North Caroli-
na. His lineage has been traced to Joshua
Weaver, who gave a deed to William Weaver,
October 28, 1 789, for 1 50 acres on New Riv-
er. This became known as Weaver Ford in
present day Ashe County. William served in
the Revolutionary War.

William Henrv Weaver homestead, Piney Creek,

N.C.

William Weaver Jr., was born 1787. He
died in Alleghany County in 1876. His home
on New River in Alleghany County, built
about the middle of the nineteenth century, is
on the National Register of Historic Places.
At this writing the land and home are being
sold.

William Weaver, Jr.'s son, Nathan, was a
large land owner in Alleghany County and a
miller. He was born in Ashe County. Nathan's
son, William Henry Weaver, bought approxi-
mately 46 acres of land from his father in
1 88 1 for one hundred dollars. The deed states
that "an acre be used for a public school while
it is used for that purpose." That school was
Rocky Ridge School. Also, "that 1/8 acre be
used for a burying ground where the graves
are." Those graves were that of a wife and
daughter of Nathan's, both having died in
1879.

William Henry Weaver's son, George, born
1899 married but never had any children. In
1978, a niece, Helen Weaver Martell, bought
approximately fifteen acres of the remaining
twenty acres left of the William Henry Wea-
ver farm from her Uncle George, and deeded
it to her sons, Phillip and James Martell. That
included the family home and cemetery
where Nathan Weaver and thirty-two of his
descendants are buried. That cemetery is well
maintained today by the generosity of a host
of living descendants.

This land is in the Piney Creek section of
Alleghany County and recently has been used
for grazing cattle.

Submitted by Mrs. Helen Weaver Martell

Anson County

THE INGRAM FARM

The original owner of the Ingram Century
Farm was Benjamin Ingram, a descendant of
Joseph Ingram who came to northeastern
Anson County from Culpepper County, Vir-
ginia, in 1769. Sometime before 1880 Benja-
min bought several parcels of land down the

Anson — Ashe

Pee Dee River near his birthplace. This was
the beginning of the Century Farm.

Today, the Century Farm, in four tracts, is
divided among the six great-grandchildren of
Benjamin Ingram; namely, Benjamin Wall
Ingram, Jr., Thomas Jeremiah Ingram, Jr.,
Nancy Ingram Landen, William Lemuel
Ingram, Jr., Margaret Ingram Bailey and
Mary Alice Ingram Busch.

Principal farmers of the land during the late
1 880s and early 1 900s were Thomas Jeremi-
ah Ingram and Charles Nelms Ingram, sons of
Benjamin and Nancy Jane Bennett Ingram.

Later, the four sons of Thomas Jeremiah
Ingram inherited the farm. While Benjamin
Wall Ingram and Charles Nelms Ingram had
other primary interests, William Lemuel
Ingram and Thomas Jeremiah Ingram, Sr. (II)
directed the farming operation. They were
joined in 1 945 by Thomas Jeremiah Ingram,
Jr. He has continued to farm since then and
lives on the farm with his wife, Helen Lamm
Ingram.

Benjamin Wall Ingram, Jr. inherited the
old homeplace known as both Ingram Moun-
tain and The Mountain. The house was
restored in the 1 960's.

The farm borders on Carolina Power and
Light Company's Blewett Falls Lake, which is
formed by a dam across the Pee Dee River.
Part of the farm is like a peninsula in the lake
and on this section is the site of Anson Coun-
ty's First courthouse.

Some of the farm is very hilly with hard-
wood forests. The land that is in pines has
been managed for timber production. For
many years cotton was the main crop; howev-
er, the farm has produced corn, soybeans and
lespedeza for both seed and feed as well as
tobacco, coastal hay and other crops. Cows,
sheep, hogs and ponies have been raised at
various times. In recent years production has
been mostly cattle, corn, small grains and
beans. Submitted by T. Ingram, Jr.

THE TYSON FARM

Many years ago in the township of Anson-
ville, the northern part of Anson County, a
family of early Americans settled, the Tysons.
Much of the land in the little community near
Ansonville known as "Jack's Branch" was in
woodland. John Tyson, the original settler,
son of Colonel John Tyson of Pitt County
came to Anson County around 1 775. He is
now buried in Tyson Cemetery in upper
Anson County.

Merrtt Pearl Tyson and his son, Marvin L. Tyson.

From John Tyson came many descendants
who owned land in Ansonville Township. A
direct descendant of this man was Merrit
Pearl Tyson (1899-1974), son of Robert
Franklin Tyson (1860-1922). He is the origi-
nal in the direct ownership of this tract. Mer-
rit Pearl Tyson married Ethel Maner Tyson.
Of this union there were ten children, twenty-
three grandchildren, twelve great grandchil-
dren and one great-great grandchild. The old-
est of the ten children, Marvin L. Tyson, now
holds the title to the Century Farm of the
Tysons.

In the early days much of the acreage was in
woodland. Tysons made their living farming,
cutting down trees, removing stumps and cre-
ating "new ground." For years, the earlier
generations grew soybeans, cotton, tobacco,
etc.

Today a new type of farming has begun.
With the aid of the US Department of Agri-
culture and the N.C. Forest Service, tree
farming is going strong. Trees again cover the
acreage where so many Tysons have made
their home.

The old homestead still remains with two
elderly cousins residing there. Up the road
nestled in planted pines is a rustic cabin,
owned by the youngest of Pearl and Ethel
Tyson's children. It is to this cabin that the
direct descendants, the nine living children,
their spouses, the twenty-three grandchil-
dren, and the twelve great grandchildren
come on family gatherings. This is home!
THIS IS WHERE IT ALL BEGAN! What
began in Anson County in 1 775 is now spread
overall of Anson County, much of North Car-
olina, and many places in the United States.
Colonel John Tyson would be proud of his
many descendants.

Submitted by Marvin L. Tyson

Ashe County

THE BAKER FARM

Captain John Cox, who had been wounded
in the Battle of Weitzel's Mill in North Caroli-
na during the Revolutionary War, left his
home in Virginia, where he had commanded
one of two forts on a ridge at the mouth of
Peach Bottom Creek overlooking New River.

About 1785, he settled in what was then
Wilkes County, North Carolina on Cranberry
Creek, a branch of New River. He soon
acquired a plantation of some 3000 acres
alongthe present boundary of Ashe and Alleg-
hany Counties.

When the 1815 tax list was taken, he was
the wealthiest man in Ashe, owning 8,188.5
acres of land. Almost all of this acreage was on
New River and/or its tributaries.

Captain Cox died December 24, 181 8, and
his two sons and six daughters settled the
estate by means of quitclaim deeds. James
and Anne Cox Baker accepted land in the
Creston Community where the second post
office in the county had been established.
Their inheritance included the following
tracts: the Three Fork Tract — 616 acres, the
North Fork Tract — 300 acres, the Nelson
Camp Tract — 400 acres, the Lane Tract —
50 acres — a total of 1366 acres. They were
also given 640 acres on Horse Creek.

James and Anne Cox Baker reared a large
family and owned a large amount of land on
the South Fork of New River. It was their son,

Zachariah Baker, who settled on the Three
Fork Tract, the Baker Farm.

For a few years he lived in the double log
house built by William McClain, an early
explorer. Later he built his own log home fac-
ing New River and it was from that house that
he went to the state legislature three terms in
the late 1820s.

After the deaths of James and Anne Cox
Baker, in 1843 and 1845 respectively, their
properties were divided and Zachariah Baker
kept some fine bottom land, including where
his house had been built. He bought 275 acres
from Colonel Jesse and Eleanor Baker Ray
adjoining the other property. This was later
deeded to Marshall and Mary Eller Baker,
with Zachariah and Zilphia Dickson Baker
having life time rights. Zachariah Baker
farmed this land with slave labor prior to
1860.

At Marshall Baker's death in 1936, the farm
passed to his youngest son, Robert Baker, who
died 1 8 years later and it was inherited by his
daughter, Eleanor Baker Reeves. Thus mak-
ing the beautiful meadowland actually a
"Two Century" ownership.

Submitted by Mrs. Jesse A. Reeves

THE BLEVINS FARM

My great-great grandfather, Willaim
Blevins, was born in October of 1 798. He and
his wife, Rebecca Stilt Blevins, built a log
house on Long Shoal Creek in Ashe County,
about two miles from the North Fork of the
New River. William heired and bought
approximately 700 acres of land. They raised
seven children (four boys and three girls).

The William Blevins family — Front row: Effie;
Vilintie; Thomas Newton, and wi fe, Rebecca Luan-
da Blevins, and baby Spencer; Sarah (Sally) Brown;
Elizabeth Wyatt and children; and Polly B. Blevins.
Second row: Ranson and William A. Blevins; and
Wyatt and Brown children. Back row: Gaither Oli-
ver; Coy Winton and wife, Mae M. Blevins; Elihue
and Delia Brown and baby, Edmond Brown; Ben
Blevins; Jacob Brown; Matilda Blevins; Ida and Pol-
ly Brown.

A dam was built across the creek and a
water mill was constructed to grind the grain
they grew. A blacksmith shop was built, as
they had to make the tools they used. A one
room school was built on the farm before
1 862 and another one at a later date.

When the boys were grown and married
each was given or bought about 1 20 acres of
the original farm. A log house was built on
each of their farms. Their names were Jacob
Elijah, Robert, and Hugh.

Robert Blevins served in the Civil War. He
was taken prisoner and held in a camp at
Elmira, New York.

Hugh, my great grandfather, married Polly
Brown, December 14, 1852. They raised four

47

children, three girls and a boy. Hugh was
killed in the Civil War at Chancellorsville,
Virginia. May 3, 1863. He served in the 37th
N.C. Regiment commanded by Colonel Bar-
ber.

My grandfather, Thomas Newton Blevins,
was only two years old when his father Hugh
was killed. In 1 888 when he was twenty-seven
years old, he bought his sisters share of the
1 1 acre farm and built more rooms to the old
log house. He later bought mountain land
located on the Little Phoenix Mountain, until
he owned 425 acres.

Thomas Newton married Rebecca Lucinda
Brown and they raised nine children. On this
farm they grew corn, oats, wheat, hay, dairy
cows, beef cattle and sheep. Flax was also
grown to make their linen cloth. They sheared
the sheep, carded, spun, dyed the wool, and
weaved it into cloth for their clothing, blan-
kets and coverlets. In the summer of 1943
while the sheep were on pasture, dogs killed
50 of them in one night. My grandfather did
not keep sheep after that.

About 1905 my father, Gaither Oliver
Blevins, and his father, Thomas Newton
Blevins, operated a country store near their
home. My father hauled the merchandise on
a wagon from the nearest railway station at
Marion, Virginia, which is forty-five miles
away. They also kept the post office "Blevins,
North Carolina" at the store.

Thomas Newton, my grandfather, and his
sons operated a sawmill to saw the timber that
grew on his mountain land and for the neigh-
bors. Tragedy struck the family again on Jan-
uary 5, 1 905, when the steam engine used for
power for the sawmill blew up. The explosion
killed four men including his son Edgar and
wounded three others. My grandfather's leg
was broken in two places. Dr. James Larkin
Ballou lived three miles away across the New
River, but he came every day for two weeks
riding horseback across the frozen river to
doctor the wounded.

I own 1 80 acres of the original tract of land
and 140 more nearby. I raise Shorthorn and
Hereford cattle as my ancestors did, but it is
quite different from the almost self-
sustaining farm they operated in three-
fourths of the last century and first quarter of
this century. They grew and made almost
everything they had on their farm.

Almost all the land of the original tract is
still owned by the descendants of William
Blevins even after 1 70 years.

Submitted by G. Earl Blevins

THE COX FARM

With the passing of some 200 years, the
waters of Cranberry Creek still flow through
the farm of John Cox, grandson of the fron-
tierland farmer of 1780, but now of lesser
dimensions. My father used to say he was
proud of his 250 acres, the last remaining par-
cel of the more extensive acreage of former
years.

Our methods of farming were the horse
and plow; the drill, to drill in the fertilizer in
the now depleted soil; the mowing machine
and rake, later modernized to the drag and
baler with main implements, the 20-foot
stacking forks and toten poles. Crops pro-
duced were corn, hay, oats and wheat, and a
threshing machine driven by four white

Ashe

A member of the Cox family with her horse.

horses to thresh the small grain for feed for the
livestock through the winter.

My father would remark sometimes of a
"curse" on the Cox land, with which the writ-
er hereof does not contend as she thinks she
has had her part of it; for example, one occa-
sion that of being put out of a very fine posi-
tion soon after Pearl Harbor, and in a manner
quite comparable.

The Cox family was granted a baronetcy by
Queen Anne, the first baronet being Sir Rich-
ard Cox, 1 706, becoming extinct in 1873 with
the 12th baronet.

The 3000 acre plantation of 1780 also
became extinct. The wide and extensive
boundaries of the 8 1 ,000 frontierland acreage
has become nearly extinct. The supposed
"curse" is probably still around as it may have
had its origin with our remote but distin-
guished ancestors, The "Plantagenet Kings of
France," of the eleventh century. The Coxes
fought in the Crusades, being followers of
King Richard. Submitted by Clyde Cox

THE CAPTAIN JOHN COX FARM

John Cox, seventh son of an Irish parlia-
mentarian, migrated to America, planted his
stakes at the mouth of Cranberry Creek in the
Peach Bottom Mountains of North Carolina
where he lived on his 3,000 acre planatation
until his death Christmas Day, 1818 (cause of
death not listed, but probably from too much
gourmet — too much inbibing).

His land holdings were rather vast and
extensive, the Alleghany County historical
society listed him as owning 81,000 acres.
One of his holdings was "Negro Mountain" in
Ashe County, now a historical site, but
renamed Mt. Jefferson. It derived its original
name from the era when Negro slaves made
their long treks from the Deep South to the
land of freedom, hiding in that mountain.

As to the methods of frontierland farming,
or crops produced, we do not know but it can
be surmised that the tall timbers were cut with
axe and brawn, the rich soil plowed with the
ox, though Captain John Cox (Indian Cap-
tive, Feb.-Aug. 1757, soldier in the French
and Indian wars, officer of the Revolution,
frontiersman), was known to ride a fast horse.
Legend says he would ride his horse through
his fields, striking his slaves with his whip; but
at his death he had freed some and provided
for others.

He also maintained a fort on the border of
North Carolina and Virginia for protection
from the Indians. The Cox family, though
large land owners, were not cavaliers, but
were pioneers and endured the hardships and
privations of the frontiersmen. To illustrate
this, our grandfather on arising in the morn-
ing would walk down the hill, break a hole in
the ice in the branch and wash his face and
hands. When I would ask him "What did he
want for supper," he would invariably reply
"mush and milk." But it did him well as he
lived out the century, 1826-1926, superbly
erect with good eyesight and never used a
cane. Submitted by Miss Clyde Cox

THE FISHER FARM

This farm is located in Ashe County, near
Alleghany and Wilkes Counties. The whole
area was Wilkes County when the Ketchum
family took up land from the State in the
1 700s around the time of the Revolutionary
War. It was not easy to live in these mountains
then, nor is it easy now.

The century farm of Sara Scarborough Fisher.

Frederick Ketchum had six children, and
all of them preceded him in death. Sarah, his
daughter, was the only one to have children.
Her husband, Loggins Woody, was killed in
the Civil War, as was her brother, George
Ketchum. Frederick kept the family together
and lived until 1900, leaving this land to his
grandchildren.

Most of it has been sold out of the family,
but three cousins still own small portions. The
ones who left the area still come back to visit
or to die. The family has inherited a love for
the pure spring water, the fresh air and the
hills.

Sara S. Fisher is the seventh generation to
live here, and she hopes her children will keep
the faith. The wild flowers, the beauty and the
tranquility are unsurpassed. May it stay for-
ever thus! Submitted by Sara S. Fisher

THE GAMBILL FARM

Martin Gambill settled in Ashe County in
1 777. He came from Culpepper, Virginia, by
way of the North Carolina Piedmont. While
below the mountain, he met and married
Nancy Nail. They made their way into the
mountains, and when Martin saw the land on
the South Fork of New River, he told Nancy
that this was where he wanted to live. Martin
soon returned to the low country as a Captain
in the revolutionary forces to do battle with
British forces at Kings Mountain, and many
of the mountain men who fought there were

Ashe

Martin Gambill's grave.

rounded up when Martin made a "Paul
Revere" like ride during which two horses
died from exhaustion.

After the battle Martin returned home to
get on with the business of clearing land, rais-
ing livestock, and rearing a family. One of the
first tasks was to build a school, the first in the
county. It is said that all of his children could
read and write, even the girls! The desire for
education must have been passed on because
we know that his descendants include at least
one judge, three attorneys, and seven doctors.
Martin served both as the first sheriff and as
the first state senator from Ashe County. He
was buried in 1 8 1 2 in his backyard.

William Gambill, Martin's son, married
Cynthia Cox and sired James who married
Lucy Reeves. Just across the creek and down
the hill from Martin's house, James built a log
house with two fine rock chimneys which still
stand today. When James' son was killed in
the Civil War, James took a wagon and
brought the body back to be buried on Gam-
bill land. The trip took three weeks.

Fortunately, James had another son, Pres-
ton, who married Elizabeth Colvard. Preston
moved down the river and up the valley to
build his own house which is still in use today.
Preston continued the business of raising live-
stock. Cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, even turkeys
could be found on the farm. James William
was born there.

J.W. Gambill married Delphia Halsey and
continued to farm the land. He built a house
on the river but later moved to the town of
West Jefferson. He served as mayor of the
town as well as chairman of the Ashe County
Board of Education. Nevertheless, he was
always a farmer, growing burley tobacco and
bringing the first purebred Angus cattle to the
county and serving as Chairman of the Agri-
cultural Stabilization Board.

J.W. had one son, James Gwyn, who mar-
ried Edna Poole. Gwyn continued to farm the
land and served four years as president of the
North Carolina Aberdeen Angus Association.
He was also on the board of the Southeastern
Aberdeen Angus Association for several
years. In addition to farming, Gwyn started
Gambill Oil Company, Inc. and served as
chairman of Ashe County Memorial Hospital
for many years.

Currently the farm has good grazing land
and much of it is set in pine timber with some
devoted to pine seedlings. Today the family
farm is owned by the heirs of J. Gwyn Gambill
as the Martin Gambill Farm, Inc.

Submitted by Jim Gambill

THE HURT-COX FARM

The farm is part of 700 acres purchased by
my sixth generation ancestor. Captain John
Cox in 1806 from Robert Hall. The land was
originally granted to James Fletcher by the
state of North Carolina in 1779, who subse-
quently sold it to Robert Hali in 1799. It
remained in the family until after 1822 when
Captain John Cox's daughter, Sarah Cox,
wife of Zacharia Baker, inherited it. It subse-
quently passed into the hands of Richard
Gentry about 1831.

The Hurt-Cox farm home is on the National Regis-
ter of Historic Places.

In 1 838 Mr. Gentry sold 400 acres, in three
tracts to James M. Nye. Either Mr. Nye did
not complete payment or he sold the farm
back to Mr. Gentry, since Richard Gentry
sold the same three tracts to George Bowers in
1 843. In 1 853 the farm, three tracts, was pur-
chased by a fourth generation ancestor, Dr.
Aras Bishop Cox. (No relation to Captain
John Cox).

Dr. A.B. Cox, while serving as Clerk of

Dr. Cox's daughter, Mary Jane Cox, mar-
ried the great-grandson of Captain John Cox,
Solomon V. Cox, in 1 868 and he continued to
operate the farm until his death in 1913. His
farming activities were about the same as Dr.
Cox's which were best suited to a mountain
farm. When tobacco became a cash crop in
Ashe County, he refused to have any grown on
his farm feeling that it was detrimental to
both one's health and to one's pocketbook. It
is interesting to note that Dr. Cox did not
deed the farm to his son-in-law until 1901,
thirty-two years after he went west.

The farmhouse, now standing, was placed
on the National Register of Historic Places in
1976. It is believed that the original four
rooms were built by James M. Nye in the
1830s. Four rooms were added in 1872 by
Solomon Cox.

When Solomon Cox's estate was divided
among the five living children in 1914, his
youngest daughter, Ruth A. Cox, received the
homeplace and 86 acres. Her sister and hus-
band, Will Bledsoe, rented and operated the
farm for her until after Ruth Cox's marriage
to Alfred Burman Hurt in 1917. Mr. Hurt, a
school teacher, principal, and then superin-
tendent of Ashe County School, continued to
operate the farm until his death in 1 96 1 . As in
the past, he raised cattle, hay and grain crops
along with fruit.

In 1962, Alfred B. Hurt, Jr. purchased the
farm from his mother following his father's
death. He has continued to operate the farm
to date. The farm activity is now entirely
devoted to raising beef cattle along with
expansion of the orchard to a wide variety of
fruit. Submitted by Alfred B. Hurt, Jr.

THE JONES FARM

The farm was first obtained through a Fed-

The W. Jones farm, over 100 years old.

Superior Court, Ashe County, a Methodist eral Land Grant by Isiah Jones. In the begin-

minister, and medical doctor, farmed the ning there was 1300 acres and when Isiah

place in Nathan's Creek Community, Ashe Jones died, the farm was divided and William

County until 1 869. He raised beef cattle, hay, Cicero Jones, son of Isiah, inherited at least

small grain, corn and fruit. During this period 250 acres, maybe more. When William Cic-

he added another 1 00 acres increasing the size ero died the farm was divided among his chil-

of the farm to 500 acres. He also operated a dren and my father, William Edwin Jones,

small general country store. In 1869, about a inherited 40 acres and bought the rest of the

year after his only daughter married, Dr. Cox, 250 acres from his brothers and sisters,

his wife, and three sons left North Carolina William Edwin Jones obtained the farm in

and moved to Missouri and later to Purdum, 1914 when his father died. William Edwin

Nebraska. Jones married Mollie Elizabeth Baldwin and

49

they have made their home on this farm since
that time.

William E. and Mollie made a living on the
farm by raising tobacco, beans, corn, and
dairy cows. They sold milk for many years to
the Ashe County Cheese Company, the cows
were fed corn from the farm and hay which
they cut and stacked themselves with the use
of two horses. Some of the hay rakes are still
on the farm. William E. had his own electrici-
ty at one time from the use of a water wheel
and a generator he built himself.

Mollie picked lots of berries and canned
everything they needed to eat. William E.
Jones died in 1981 and the farm is now in my
name, as I was the only daughter. It is now list-
ed under Mary Sue Jones D'Alcamo. My son
is also living on the farm and is growing
Christmas trees. It is now known as the Silas
Creek Tree Farm. Submitted by Sue D'Alcamo

THE MILLER FARM

Since at least 1829, four generations of
Millers have been landowners and farmers in
the northwest section of Ashe County near
Lansing. In the Staggs Creek and Long Branch
Community, known as The Miller Hollar, Eli
Miller and wife, Mary Miller, first owners of
around 250 acres of land on the upper part

The Miller home.

built a log house along with barns and other
outbuildings.

Eli raised corn, oats, potatoes, and cattle for
milk. Then, in 1883 the farm was taken over
by Monroe Miller and wife, Amanda Miller.
They built a two story log house one half mile
down the hollar, where Monroe, son of Eli
Miller, continued to farm this land. He also
raised hogs, sheep, and produced lumber for
building furniture and pulpwood.

This farm was divided up with six children.
Charles Miller and his wife, Hattie Miller,
took over about 50 acres. Charles was the son
of Monroe Miller. Charles farmed the 50
acres raising corn, potatoes, tomatoes and
other vegetables for market. Charles Miller,
also, was a furniture builder. He built cabi-
nets, shelves, chairs, and spinning wheels
from lumber from this farm. Charles built
another house back up the hollar where the
old log house of Eli Miller first stood.

In 1958, Bruce Miller took over the farm.
Bruce was the son of Charles Miller. Later
Bruce and his wife, Dorothy Miller, began
farming by raising potatoes and corn. They
also built crafts from timber on this farm.

The Miller family plans to continue farm-
ing the land into the next century. This is over
one hundred and sixty years of family farming
and proud to be farmers in the great state of

Ashe

North Carolina.

Submitted by Bruce and Dorothy Miller

THE PERKINS FARM

The three Perkins brothers were born in
England in the years 1738, 1740 and 1742.
They started for America in or about the year

The Perkins homeplace.

1760. They landed in Connecticut and after
about three years started south. They settled
in Virginia and North Carolina.

Joseph Perkins settled at Old Fields in Ashe
County before the Revolutionary War and
served in the Mexican Army. After this he
moved to Ohio and after the Indians went on
the war path there, they sold out and came to
Buffalo in Ashe County.

Linda G. Hahn presently lives at the old
homeplace. There is a cemetery and two log
buildings that still stand. Linda's great grand-
father, David Perkins, was born October 1,
1 820 and lived in an old log house here. There
was a log spring house and barn then. There is
also a cellar, smokehouse and woodshed.

Linda's grandfather, William F. Perkins,
built the house she lives in, except it has been
remodeled some. It was built when her moth-
er was a little girl.

William F. Perkins was married to Alice
Toliver and they had two girls, Linda's moth-
er, Mildred, and her Aunt Jean.

Mildred married Hardy Greene and they
had three girls, Mildred Louise, Linda and
Sally.

Hardy Greene divided the homeplace so all
of his girls own it. Linda got the house and
outbuildings.

Linda married but is divorced and she has
two sons, Richard and Michael Hahn.
Michael lives with his mother, Linda, and
Linda works for First Citizens Bank in West
Jefferson.

Linda can remember when they had a mill
to grind corn. Some of the Perkins' made part
of the old hog rifle. Maple syrup was made
there. During the years there has been tobac-
co, corn, cane, oats, cattle and sheep grown on
the farm. There used to be apple trees all over
the place. They now have cattle and two
horses. Submitted by Linda G. Hahn

THE PERKINS FARM

The Perkins farm has been in the same
family for over 200 years, having been first
settled by Timothy Perkins, Sr. (1736-1834).
He received the land grant from Governor
Caswell in the late 1700's. The original tract
was 2000+ acres. Successive family owners
have been: Timothy Perkins, Jr. 1771-1851;
Johnson Perkins, 1815-1 884; Winfield J. Per-

The Perkins home built in 1898. Now owned by
Clara Perkins.

kins, 1851-1925; and Miss Clara Perkins,
1900-.

The present farmhouse was built in 1898,
replacing two other houses close by (probably
just in front of present house). The house is
typical of large homes built during that era
and is constructed of materials from the farm.
The walls of each room are paneled in differ-
ent wood. The mantels and trim are walnut,
maple, poplar, cherry, linden, and oak. The
ceilings are chestnut. The main staircase is
walnut and oak, and the rail is done in the
intricate design of hand turned spindles. The
house has been modernized (original archi-
tecture undisturbed) and perfectly main-
tained through the years.

Outbuildings include spring house, apple-
potato house, smokehouse, "lumber house"
(used for tools and storage), battery room
(once used to house batteries for Delco elec-
trical system), two garages, large barn (one
portion 100+ years old), corn crib, and cattle
weigh station.

On the original farm tract are flour and feed
mills, woolen factory, which made blankets
and also sold wool to Chatham Manufactur-
ing Company in Elkin. Crops produced on the
farm have been wheat, corn, oats, and tobacco
and livestock.

During the Civil War there were no battles
in the area, but Yankee soldiers came through
plundering horses, food, and grain. Bullet
holes from their guns are in the corn crib door.
The brother of Winfield Perkins, James Per-
kins, was shot by a bushwacker one night
while he was sleeping in his tent.

All Perkins ancestors are buried, along with
several slaves, in the Perkins family cemetery
on a hill above the house. Timothy, Sr., is bur-
ied in nearby Sturgills.

Submitted by Richard R. Glenn

THE PHIPPS FARM

During the ownership of this farm, many
crops have been produced — corn, wheat,
buckwheat, tobacco, rye and hay.

Some buildings include homes, barns, and
other outbuildings.

No buildings remain.

The Union Army had to pass through this
farm. Some alleged old hanging trees remain.
Ghosts, supposed to relate to the Civil War,
still remain so the story goes.

The Phipps gained access to this property
through a grant from the King of England in
the 1 7th Century. This grant was supposed to
cover about five thousand acres.

Submitted by David L. Phipps

Ashe

An outbuilding on the Phipps farm.

THE RAY FARM

James Ray, the son of Colonel Jesse Ray, a
Revolutionary War hero, was born in 1 789.
James Ray and Jennie Hardin Ray came to
Buffalo Creek, Ashe County, in 1837 and
established a home. They brought at least five
children, Henry, Hiram, Washington, Emma-
line and Hilton. Hilton and wife, Elizabeth
Burkette, stayed on the farm until their death.
Hilton and Elizabeth raised three children,
Franklin, Thomas and Elbert. Franklin died
as a bachelor on the farm. Thomas married
Hettie Brown and raised one daughter, Eliza-
beth.

Elizabeth and her husband, Howard Gray-
beal, presently are living on the farm in a 1 50
year old home that has been passed down
from generation to generation. Elizabeth and
Howard have four daughters: Helen, Ruth
Ann, Margaret and Betty. Ruth Ann and hus-
band currently occupy a home on the family
farm.

Pictured are Thomas and Hettie Brown Rav, and
their daughter, Elizabeth Ray Graybeal, in front of
the original home of James Ray.

Among the early trades developed on the
farm was a sawmill with sash saw. This mill
was instrumental in building the home that
now stands on the farm, as well as, a three sto-
ry barn, built by slaves owned by James. The
sawmill also provided a community church
built in 1 868. Other buildings included a root
cellar, smokehouse, corn crib, slave kitchen,
spring house, and a country store.

The original house included two porches, a
living room, and three bedrooms. On one
wing was a large kitchen that held two large
tables, two cupboards, a wood stove after
191 1 and a "meal" room. All of the buildings,
except the barn and country store, still stand
on or near the farm.

Slaves were wedding presents to James and
Jennie Ray and lived on the farm until after

the Civil War. Three of the slaves' names were
Rachel, Ben, and Luce. After the war and the
return of Hilton, a Lieutenant in the 5th N.C.
Calvary, contact was lost with the slaves.

Hilton owned six hundred acres, but now
the family farm is less than 100 acres. The
family cemetery marks the graves of many
people who have lived and died on the farm.

Many crops have been farmed through the
years: corn, apples, beans, wheat, and other
garden crops. In the most recent years, the
farm raised livestock. Beef cattle are currently
grown on the farm.

Submitted by Elizabeth R. Graybeal

THE SPENCER FARM

The old Spencer farm is located on Spencer
Branch in the Helton Community of Ashe
County. Just after the Civil War, William
Spencer, a Confederate Veteran of Grayson
County Virginia, "entered" and bought from
the state a hill farm and cleared the ground to
farm. His brothers and father, Isaac Spencer,
settled on adjoining farms.

They all built log houses and made a road
for about a mile to the homesteads. William's
land joined the Virginia state line and he was
killed at the line by a falling tree in 1 883.

His son, Emory, was born and lived all his
life (1872 to 1956) at the old home. About
1900 he built a new T-shaped frame and
weatherboard home with a porch upstairs
over the ground level porch. It was a white
house with a red roof. The house is still occu-
pied.

After Emory's death his son Breece (born
1 902) bought out the other heirs and owns the
place at present. He lives on another farm on
Helton Creek and a tenant lives at the old
farm.

Various tracts of the farm have changed
owners several times but the central part
including the house, barn, and family ceme-
tery has always been in the family. The farm
is now about 1 70 acres in size.

In earlier times they grew rye, corn, buck-
wheat, oats, wheat and hay besides the vegeta-
bles for home use. They kept sheep, cattle,
horses, turkeys, chickens and hogs and some-
times goats with some geese and ducks for
feathers to make pillows and feather beds.
They probably grew a little flax for home use
about the 1860s and 1870s.

Most of the crops were discontinued before
1 940 except corn, oats and hay. Burley tobac-
co growing started about 1930 and in recent
years only tobacco and hay have been grown.
Some of the fields were always rotated from
crop to grazing. The steep hills could only be
worked with horse drawn equipment, so
farming in these hills is declining rapidly.

Breece has two sons, Bryan born in 1929
and Richard born in 193.6 and six grandchil-
dren and five great-grandchildren. It is hoped
that the land can be kept in the family for a
few more generations.

Submitted by Bryan Spencer

THE STURGILL FARM

The Sturgill farm is located in Ashe County
on the Roundabout Road #1308. This farm
has been in the Sturgill family since 1 806 and
has had six different owners.

First being Francis Sturgill who was born in
Green County, Virginia 1775. As a youth he

Martin and Wilma Sturgill at Disnev World in
1982.

moved to Alleghany County with his family
where they settled by the New River. He later
married Rebecca Hash about 1 776. He enlist-
ed in the Montgomery County Militia and
was in the battle of King's Mountain. In 1806
Francis bought some 600 acres of land on the
head waters of the New River in Ashe County
near the Tennessee line. It's not known if
Francis lived on this land, because he died in
1807. Francis and Rebecca had twelve chil-
dren.

After Francis' death, the land was passed on
to his son, Joel, who was to be the second own-
er of this farm. He obtained title to the land in
1813. Joel and his wife, Rachel Waters, raised
their children here on this farm, but in later
years went to Scott County, Virginia, then on
to Missouri where his wife died in 1 864. The
date of Joel's death and place of burial are not
known, although it is thought to be in Scott
County, Virginia.

It is known that the farm was passed to
Joel's son, in 1855. He and his wife, Sarah,
lived there the rest of their lives. The next
owner was William's son, Lewis Jackson, and
wife, Naomi Miller. He was a magistrate and
a blacksmith. After his death the land was
passed to his son. Mason, and wife, Mary
House, around 1930. He was a Postmaster
and storekeeper and lived on the farm all his
life. Present owner is his son, Martin, and
wife, Wilma. Submitted by Martha L. Sturgill
and Cathy Sturgill Pennington

THE WOODIE FARM

The Woodie farm is located in Ashe Coun-
ty's Peak Creek Township — one and one half
miles from Highway 221 and the A.C. Dancy
Store and Scottsville Post Office on the Ashe/
Alleghany County line road.

Part of the original farm land was acquired
in 1805 from the state of North Carolina by
Joshua Cox for fifty shillings for 100 acres of
land.

Simeon Woodie (born May 1, 1852) and
Lucy Shepherd Woodie (born November 16,
1854) purchased the homeplace for $720 on
January 18, 1880. Simeon and Lucy Woodie
were married on December 25, 1 875, and had
six children: Constant V. Woodie, Rufus A.
Woodie, George F. Woodie, J. Richard Woo-
die, James C. Woodie, and Robert G. Woo-
die. Simeon Woodie and his sons cleared the
land and used the chestnut logs to make char-
coal which was shipped to Ore Knob Mine.

Robert Glenn Woodie (born November 3,
1 892) and Lana Tucker Woodie (born Febru-
ary 1 8, 1 898) married on April 9,1917. They
bought the homeplace from Simeon and Lucy

51

John Emerson U 'oodic in the hurley tobacco crop on
his farm in Sparta, N.C.

Woodie. They used the farm land to raise tur-
keys, crops and dairy cattle. They were
employed by the Postal Service and used a
new 1923 Model-T Ford which cost $350 to
deliver the mail. When the weather was bad a
horse was used for transportation. Robert
Glenn and Lana Woodie had three children:
John Emerson Woodie, Ruth W. Taylor and
Eula W. Witherspoon.

John Emerson Woodie and Ilene M. Woo-
die on May 28, 1971 were deeded the home
place. Emerson Woodie is the retired mainte-
nance and water supervisor of the town of
Sparta. He is also the former owner/president
of J.E. Woodie & Sons, Inc. Construction. He
is currently Christmas tree farming, raising
beef cattle and has a large apple and peach
orchard. The Woodies have six children:
Richard M. Woodie, Clara W. Crouse, J. Lar-
ry Woodie, Linda W. Searcy, Iris W. Johnson
and John Emerson Woodie, Jr.

Submitted by Emerson Woodie

Avery County

THE AVERY FARM

Avery Farms of Plumtree, North Carolina,
is located on U.S. Highway 19 East. At pres-
ent Avery Farms is a Christmas Tree and live-
stock farm, operated by brothers Judge Vance
Avery and William Waightstill Avery with
both families active in the business and living
on the land. Mother Lotus Avery also lives on
the farm.

Avery Farms was started from land granted
to Waightstill Avery, first Attorney General
of North Carolina, around 1 785 and has been
in the possession of the Avery family since
then. The farm now consists of over 2,000
acres. It lies on the North Toe River with
approximately 300 acres of bottom land and
about the same amount of pasture land with
the balance of approximately 1400 acres
planted in Christmas trees.

During the first 100 years, the land was
used mainly to grow grass, wheat, rye and
corn for the livestock. During the period
1905-1928, our grandfather, William
Waightstill Avery, a Davidson College gradu-
ate, came back to the farm and ran a dairy
from which he processed the milk into cheese
and shipped it to New York City.

Ashe — Avery — Beaufort

In the late 1800s, mica and feldspar were
discovered on the farm and mining became a
major source of income until 1 959.

Our father, William Waightstill (Waits)
Avery, ran a beef cattle operation until his
death in 1980.

At present, Avery Farms is one of the larg-
est Christmas tree farms in North Carolina
with over one million Fraser Fir Christmas
trees being grown. The Christmas tree opera-
tion was the first to ship Fraser Fir Christmas
trees by mail order. Trees have been shipped
into every state in the United States and sev-
eral other countries. But, most of our trees are
sold wholesale throughout the southeast,
midwest and northeast.

The farm was originally used as summer
pasture for the Avery's beef cattle. Beef cattle
is still raised today. In 1985, Avery Farms
started a registered quarter horse operation.

Land is important to the Averys and we
now have several sons involved in the farm
operation, so we anticipate, with the help of
our Lord, that this farm will be in existence
for another 100 years.

Submitted by H 'aightstill A very

Beaufort County

THE HARRIS FARM

The Harris farm, located in Beaufort
County, Long Acre Township, was acquired
from the state of North Carolina in 1788, in
the 1 3th year of our independence. It is ironic
that the farm was first owned by John Harris
and the last person to own the farm with the
Harris 1 name was John.

The farm still owned by a member of the
family is John's daughter, Ada Louise Harris
Mizell. She is the only child of John and Lyda
Windley Harris. The farm has been in contin-
uous ownership, making it only one year away
from a two century family farm.

Originally, the farm had 186 acres, but
through the years with divisions taking place,
it now has 36 acres. The original house
burned, but no date has been established.
There was another built and later another
house was built which is the one still in use.
The last was completed in 1935.

Until the death of Johnnie Harris, this farm
was the main source of income for the family.
Crops planted on this farm have been corn,
cotton, soybean and tobacco. The farmland is
leased out and corn, tobacco and soybeans are
the principal crops.

Ownership of this farm has been as follows:
September 9, 1788, John Harris received
from the state of North Carolina 186 acres;
1817, John Harris to George Harris; 1846,
George Harris to Lovick Harris; 1855, Lovick
Harris dower to Almarine Harris; 1873,
Almarine remarried to Elisha Gurganus and
gave her rights to Asa. C. Harris, grandfather
of present owner, Ada Harris Mizell; 1875,
George W. Respass and wife, Mary to Asa C.
Harris; 1 876, John W. Alligood and wife, Sara
to Ada C. Harris; 1902, Asa Harris and wife,
Mary, to John L. and Bertha Harris; 1902,
Asa Harris and wife, Mary, to Lovick Harris;
1937, Lovick Harris to John Harris; 1958,
Bertha Harris to Ada Harris Mizzell; 1977,
John Harris died and willed the estate to his
daughter, Ada Harris Mizell; and 1980, Ber-
tha Harris died and life estate was closed.

Submitted by Ada L. Mizell

THE LATHAM FARM

In April of 1 853, Dr. James F. Latham pur-
chased land in the eastern-most section of
Beaufort County, in an area known as Haslin.
He practiced medicine and farmed. His son,
Fred, worked with him, and at his father's
death in 1 893, inherited part of the land, and
then bought out the other heirs. He later pur-
chased adjoining land, bordering the Pungo
River, bringing this acreage to approximately
1 500 acres, with much of this still being uti-
lized for timber production.

The "Circle Grove Farm", 1920s.

Fred had two sons, Joseph and Harry.
Though Joseph pursued a medical degree,
Harry graduated from N.C. State in 1919,
then returned to the farm, where he remained
for several years before opening a feed grain
and equipment business in Belhaven.

Fred Latham enjoyed a long and distin-
guished career in the field of agriculture and
conservation. Besides overseeing his farm
operation, he served two terms in the N.C.
Senate from 1 909 to 1913, and was a member
of the N.C. State Board of Agriculture from
1915 to 1929. In the late 1940s and early
1950's, he served on the Board of Conserva-
tion and Development.

During the early 1920s, Fred became
involved in a corn-breeding program, and
developed two varieties of open-pollinated
corn, Latham's Double and Latham's Yellow
Cross. Until the advent of hybrid seed corn in
the 1950s, these were well-known and popu-
lar varieties of seed corn.

In 1947, Harry's daughter, Jane, married
Marion Dilday, a native of Hertford County.
At the time of their marriage, Marion was
employed by the N.C. Department of Agricul-
ture in the Markets Division. With his major
at N.C. State having been Agronomy, and
with a farming background, he was well quali-
fied tojoin Mr. Latham in his farm, seed and
cattle operation.

Since 1947, Marion and Jane have contin-
ued to farm the original holdings, and in addi-
tion, have purchased and cleared 2500 acres
of adjoining land. Two sons-in-law, Harold
Smith and Del Ross, now farm all the crop-
land.

In addition to the production of seed corn,
Marion also produced seed soybeans. In the
1960's, he built the first stage of a seed pro-
cessing and storage operation, Circle Grove
Seeds, Inc., which is now one of the foremost
seed companies in North Carolina, and one of
the largest in the southeast. He and Jane oper-

ate this, along with two of their daughters,
Susan Smith and Marian Keech.

Jane and Marion renovated the homeplace
in 1 956 but kept the same overall appearance,
although the circle of trees, from whence
came the name "Circle Grove Farm" has long
since disappeared due to age and hurricanes.
This home is still the "core" of our century
farm, as it is situated on the original land
grant, and has continually been inhabited by
descendants of the Latham family.

Submitted by Jane Latham Dilday

THE RATCLIFF FARM

May, 1 844, Mills Riddict, Rick N. Riddict,
William B. Whitehead and Nathan Riddict
all of the state of Virginia deeded to Ephraim
Ratcliff for the sum of $400 two tracts of land.
The first tract had been purchased by their
families May 16, 1784, containing 400 acres.
The second tract purchased by their ancestors
November, 1788, contained 3652 acres.

Fifty acres of this land was conveyed to
Ephraim Ratcliffs son, Joseph Milton on
June 17, 1854.

On June 26, 1878, Joseph Milton Ratcliff
deeded land to Jordan Wilkinson. Jordan
Wilkinson and wife conveyed said lands to
Martha and husband, Daniel; John L. and
wife, Mary; Joseph E. and Cornela Ann; and
Ninnie Ratcliff.

July 21, 1897, the above family members
deeded property to Joseph E. Ratcliff with the
stipulation that he provide for their father
and mother Joseph Milton and wife, Bea-
thana.

Joseph Ephraim Ratcliff married Virginia
Cutler. They had ten children: Thallie, Ren-
nel, Edgar, Ruth, Audrey, William, Daniel,
Neva, Roy and Joseph Ephraim Ratcliff. The
farm was conveyed to Joseph E. Ratcliff, Jan-
uary 10, 1953.

Joseph E. Ratcliff deeded brother Daniel
11.6 acres around 1954. In 1986, Joseph E.
Ratcliff purchased 1 1 acres of above men-
tioned farm. March 1 3, 1 987 Joseph Ephraim
Ratcliff died. The farm has been left to his
wife, most of which will be conveyed at her
death to still another, Joseph Ephraim Rat-
cliff. They also have a daughter, Patricia J.
Ratcliff.

Four of the Joe Ratcliffs have lived in the
house still on farm.

Submitted by Mrs. Joseph E. Ratcliff

Bertie County

THE ABASHIA BAZEMORE FARM

It was in 1 836 that Abashia Bazemore pur-
chased land on the north side of the Cashie
Swamp. In 1838 he purchased the land
between his and the War-Tom Swamp, thus
placing the Cashie Swamp on the south and
the War-Tom Swamp on the west as the two
swamps join together. This land is located in
Snakebite Township in Bertie County.

The farmland that Abashia Bazemore's
great-great-grandchildren, Lindsey Bazem-
ore Chamblee and his sister, Lula Mae Cham-
blee, own was the plantation homesite.

The well that provides water for the poultry
today is the same well that provided water for
the animals and the family 1 50 years ago. At
times the water has been low, but it has never
dried up.

Beaufort — Bertie

Lindsey Bazemore Chamblee takes water from the
well which has been in use for 150 years on the plan-
tation.

Much of the early farm equipment used
with mules is still located on the farm. For
example, a cross-cut saw, a corn sheller which
shells one ear at a time sending both the cob
and the corn the same way; a four-wheel wag-
on and a two wheel car, fertilizer distributor,
cotton, corn and peanut planters, and a vari-
ety of cultivators, and plows.

For the garden, there is the homemade seed
sower which sows small seed like cabbage and
turnips.

There are some of the old kitchen utensils:
a coffee grinder, bread tray, a pot which hung
in the fireplace, griddle, skillet, and pans. The
set of six tall cups and saucers came from
England.

The farm contains the family cemetery
which has graves and markers of five genera-
tions. It is still being used by family members
and is maintained for future use.

At one time there were 1 7 buildings around
the dwelling house. Many of these have been
destroyed with the passing of time and
storms, but one still remains solid. This build-
ing was constructed in the 1 880s from timber
cut from cypress trees near the swamp. Most
of the timbers measure 8x16 inches and were
cut by using an axe. It was put together at the
corners with the "dove-tail" design. It mea-
sures 8x10 and was used to store vegetables
in the winter.

The old bell which was used to toll the noon
meal — to summon the workers from the field
is still attached to the post in the yard. I
remember how good it sounded to hear the
bell ring, calling us to the house for dinner and
a period of rest. Sometimes the bell was used
to send a message of distress — such as a
death in the family or a fire, at these times it
was rung in a different way.

It is assumed that the women in the family
prepared and made the clothing for the fami-
ly. The bats which were used to card the cot-
ton or wool, along with the spinning wheel
and the weaving loom are still at the homesite
in one of the buildings.

No doubt the men in the family did some
hunting as the double-barrel muzzle-loaded
gun and the powder horn have been saved,
but I do not remember them being used.

One of Abashia Bazemore's sons served in
the Civil War and the weapon which he used

was saved. It consisted of the sword, the case
and the belt with the brass buckle.

Modern ways of living and farming have
replaced the olden methods and the planta-
tion has been divided as each generation
passed on to their reward. However, fresh
fruits and vegetables, country eggs and pork
raised, killed, and cured on the farm still
reminds one that the farm was once self-
sufficient, but that too has changed with the
passing of time. Submitted by Lindsey Bazemore
Chamblee and Lula Mae Chamblee

THE COBB FARM

The purchase of 1 56 acres in Bertie County
by G.W. Cobb in 1867 became the origin of
the Cobb Century Farm. George, educated at
Colerain Academy, married Celia A. Henry
the same year he purchased the land. The
homeplace was built in 1880. In addition to
farming, George was also a justice of the
peace.

Melvin R. Cobb's century homeplace.

In 1 922, Peter F. Cobb, a son of George and
Celia, inherited the farm. He married Sallie
Mills White in 1907, and they had nine chil-
dren. Peter bought 250 additional acres in
1925. He farmed, served as district supervi-
sor of county roads, logged and managed
woodlands. His seven sons carried much of
his workload. As the boys began leaving the
farm, Peter used tenants to work the land. He
retired and moved out of the homeplace in
1948.

Melvin R. Cobb, the fourth son of Peter,
purchased a portion of the farm, known as the
"White Place" in 1 94 1 . He had married Edna
Phelps in 1937, and they had two children.
They worked the "White Place" and later
managed Peter's land after his retirement.
Melvin also worked with the Veterans Farm
Program as an instructor.

In 1957, Melvin bought all shares from the
heirs to settle the estate of his father. He con-
tinued a landlord-tenant relationship until
1965. Mechanization forced a move to lease
operations. Fifty acres were cleared and add-
ed to production by Melvin.

Subsequent years saw the homeplace
destroyed by fire in 1972, and the return of
Melvin R. "Rudy" Cobb, Jr. to the family
farm in 1974.

Rudy's operation of the farm fell victim to
high equipment prices, excessive interest
rates, a decline in grain prices and the drought
conditions in 1979 and 1980. He sold out in
early 1981.

Melvin and Edna are proud to be Century
Farmers, but saddened to see many family

53

farms, as Melvin surmises, "Gone With the
Wind." Submitted by Melvin R. Cobb, Sr.

THE LAWRENCE FARM

The farm which is registered to Harold S.
Lawrence, Jr. and Mac W. Lawrence has been
in the Lawrence family for more than a hun-
dred years. The first tract of land containing
150 acres was purchased by our great-
grandfather, James H. Lawrence, and two of
his aunts, Elizabeth Bryant and Christine
Bryant, from John Hardy and his wife, Ella
Hardy, in 1 874. He paid "the sum of seventy
five dollars to him in hand."

The second tract was added in 1880. This
was purchased by James H. Lawrence from
Robert A. Taylor. There were 70 acres in this
tract and it was sold for sixty dollars. The deed
states that this was known as "the Bryant of
Texas." Down through the years, even today,
it's still called "Texas."

On this farm in White's Township, Bertie
County, James H. Lawrence and his wife,
Maggie Perry Lawrence, raised their family of
five sons and three daughters. At one time he
was a county commissioner and a justice of
the peace for many years. In this capacity, he
performed many marriages and the family
has numerous copies of deeds that he wrote
for friends and neighbors.

When James H. Lawrence died in 1922, he
left the farm to his children. Luther C. Law-
rence, grandfather of the present owners,
bought out the other heirs over a ten year peri-
od, from 1925-1935. He sold the farm to his
son, Harold S. Lawrence, Sr., in 1968. He in
turn sold it to his sons, the present owners, in
1983.

The owners live on the farm, do the work,
and their income is derived from the corn,
soybeans, peanuts and tobacco that they
grow.

There is now a new Lawrence on the scene,
William Austin, the son of Harold, Jr. and his
wife, Pamela, who was born June 28, 1987.
We anticipate that he and his heirs will be on
the same farm in 2088. It's a good place to
live, and hopefully by that time, farmers will
be receiving a greater return from their invest-
ment. Submitted by Mac W. Lawrence

THE OVERFLOW FARM

Overflow Farm was so named for the num-
ber of artesian wells flowing freely within its
boundaries. A large one, first tapped in 1926
for the construction of a new bridge over
Quiocquison Swamp, has served as a roadside
stop for thousands of tourists and locals. It
still offers the sanction of its cool water with

The original structure of the Overflow farm home.

Bertie — Bladen

a shaded picnic area to the north/south traffic
on US 13.

As for the owners, the north central section
of Bertie County had been the birthplace for
Nathan Myers and it was there he purchased
land on May 10, 1873. As the deed stated, the
land was bound "on the East by the Public
Road which leads from Quiocquison Swamp
to Powells Crofs, (now Powellsville) and on
the South by Quiocquison Swamp." He
moved his family into a log house already sit-
uated on the land and began clearing the origi-
nal timber. As trees were cut, neighbors
joined in "log rollings" to pile the fallen trees
for burning in order to open the land for farm-
ing. Corn and cotton were major crops on the
farm at that time and a cider press was operat-
ed for the family and neighbors.

The main house was constructed in 1877
and Nathan Myers, his wife Sally Askew, and
their four children moved into the story and a
half-central hall structure. Since its comple-
tion, this house has served as home for the
owners with the front section remaining
unchanged and each generation making
changes and additions to the rear.

As Nathan's health failed, his middle
daughter, Ella Myers who had married T.W.
Hollomon, returned home with her husband
and family in the fall of 1913 and T.W.
assumed management of the farm. Nathan
died in 1 922 and was buried beside his wife on
a small knoll overlooking the land he cleared.

T.W. and Ella Hollomon purchased the
entire farm from the other Myers heirs and
cleared some additional woodlands. The two
had six children who contributed to the daily
operation of the farm and it was during this
period that tobacco and peanuts were added
to the crops being harvested. T.W. farmed the
land until his death in 1936 and his widow,
Ella, daughter of the original owner, contin-
ued the operation.

In 1942, Cecil Hollomon, T.W. and Ella's
youngest son, married Rosalie Liverman
from Murfreesboro and assumed full man-
agement of the farm. He purchased the farm
from the other heirs in 1 944 and still manages
the farm's operation. Ella remained on the
farm with Cecil and his family and died in
1969, having lived in the house her entire 96
years with the exception of her first 1 7 years of
marriage. Cecil cleared additional land, bred
hogs for a number of years, and has added soy-
beans to the crops being harvested.

As the 20th century moved into its last
quarter, Overflow Farm had experienced
numerous changes with horses giving way to
tractors and the work that once took numer-
ous laborers now being done by a few. Over-
flow Farm met the challenges of this new age
and continued to send its products to market,
prepared its family members for various pro-
fessions, and offered sanction to family and
friends with a positive outlook for the centu-
ries ahead. Submitted by Cecil Hollomon, Sr.

THE PARKER FARM

The century farm's present owners are
Edwin Parker and wife, Jo Ann Parker. Edwin
has purchased or inherited his farm from six
generations of Parkers who were previous
owners. Edwin has in his home a copy of a
land grant from the state of North Carolina to
Joseph Parker. The grant consists of eighty
acres dated July 1 9, 1 794, which was granted

to Joseph Parker signed by Governor Richard
Dobbs Speight. Grant No. 259 registered in
Bertie County.

Other owners: The 5th generation was Rue-
ben Parker (1776-1821). The 4th generation
was William George Parker (1819-1863). The
3rd generation was Henry King Parker (1855-
1931). The 2nd generation was John B. Par-
ker, Sr. (1890-1977). The 1st generation and
present owner is Edwin McCall Parker
(1937).

Edwin has a pedigree chart that his mother
prepared for him that goes back to the 1 1th
generation of the Parkers, who was John Par-
ker of Southhampton, England (born in
1612). Submitted by Edwin McCall Parker

THE SESSOMS FARM

The original owner of the Sessoms farm,
located on Highway 1 32 1 between Ponellsvil-
le and Bethlehem Church, was Dr. Harold Bill
Sessoms, who served in the North Carolina
Senate in 1 850. He passed the farm on to his
son, Dr. Joseph W. Sessoms, who built the
home in the early 1850s, which stood on the
farm until fairly recently. Dr. Joseph Sessoms
deeded the farm to his son, Leigh R. Sessoms,
who in turn gave the farm to his son, Harold
R. Sessoms. At Harold's death, the farm
became the property of his widow, Elizabeth
Cross Sessoms, who owns the farm today.

No one has lived in the home since Leigh
died, but a negro family, living in a tenant
house nearby, kept the house and grounds in
good shape as long as they lived. After the
death of this family, vandalism became a
problem as windows were stolen; so to pre-
vent its complete destruction, the house was
given to a man who wanted to restore it and
move it to a new location. The outer houses
and stables were destroyed by time and wind
storms, so the only buildings standing today
are a tobacco barn and a storage building. The
land on which buildings were standing has
been cleared and added to the farming land.

The farm is in good condition today, and a
reliable tenant farms the land and keeps
everything in excellent shape.

Submitted by Elizabeth Cross Sessoms

Bladen County

THE FREEMAN FARM

For more than five generations the Len-
nons, Frinks and Freemans have been land-
owners and farmers in Bladen County. In
1844, John Moore Lennon acquired land
granted by the state of North Carolina along

The John Frink Freeman farm family homeplace for
more than 100 years.

Bryant Swamp on SR 1 1 76 near Bladenboro,
in addition to land inherited from his father.

In the division of the John Moore Lennon
estate in 1 875 his daughter, Amanda Lennon
Frink, wife of William Pinckney Frink,
received a 50 acre tract which is a part of the
Century Farm land. The Frinks were living in
Columbus County, south of Chadbourn,
when he entered the Confederate Army in the
Civil War and was killed in battle in 1862.
Being left alone with two young children,
James M. and Jane Elizabeth, Amanda L.
Frink came back to live on the family farm.

Jane Elizabeth grew up and married Thom-
as Jefferson Freeman and through the years
they had nine children. The farm continued
in operation. In the early 1900s, Thomas J.
Freeman and his brother-in-law, James M.
Frink, formed a partnership — The Frink and
Freeman Lumber Company, Bladenboro,
They operated a sawmill and cut some of the
finest virgin timber in this area, some of
which was shipped to Wilmington for use in
the shipyard there and to other ports.

In 1914 Amanda L. Frink deeded to her
daughter, Jane E. Frink Freeman, the 50 acre
tract referred to above as part of her inheri-
tance.

In 1 934, Jane E. Frink Freeman deeded this
property, which was the homeplace, to her
youngest son, John Frink Freeman, who had
remained at home to operate the farm after
his father's death in 1 930. He also operated a
general store in Bladenboro from 1936 to
1953.

In 1 938, John Frink Freeman married Dai-
sy Edith Lennon and they had two children,
Mattie Elizabeth and John Frink Freeman, Jr.

At the death of John Frink Freeman in
1971, through the execution of his Will, the
farm, now consisting of 323 acres, and includ-
ing the original 50 acre Century Farm land,
was passed to his wife, Edith Lennon Free-
man. The family lands continue to be used for
general purpose farming and hopefully will be
far into the future.

Submitted by Edith L. Freeman

THE WILLIAM FRINK FARM

Our Century Farm is located on S.R.
1177-N., two miles out of Bladenboro on
N.C. 410-S. It has within its bounds the sec-
ond corner of a 400 acre survey made by
Rehan Redin recorded in the Bladen County
registry during August, 1779. The town of
Bladenboro is located on this 400 acre tract.

In the year 1843, John Moore Lennon,
great-great-grandfather of William L. Frink,
made a survey and a land grant was made to
him by Governor John M. Moorehead for a
charge of $5.00 per one hundred acres. Some
years later another tract was purchased for a
fee of $12.50 per 100 acres. This included a
tract that was later referred to as the Thomas
Simpson House Bottom, a colorful name for
a farm in the early 1 800s.

Submitted by William L. and Martha W. Frink

THE HARRELSON FARM

In April, 1786, James Campbell was mar-
ried to Katherine Lamon. Both families
owned farm lands in Bladen County. Their
son, John Campbell, married to Catherine
Dove, left Bladen County and lived in South
Carolina with their seven children. A daugh-

Bladen

The Harrelson home, built in 1917 by Thomas B.
Harrelson. Living there today are Mr. and Mrs. Dan
Regan, Jr. Mrs. Regan is a daughter of Thomas B.
Harrelson. They keep the house in good condition
out of sentiment.

ter, Margaret, was married to Enos Harrelson
from the area of Fork, South Carolina.

Inheriting land from Campbells and
Lamons, Margaret and Enos Harrelson
moved to Bladen County. In addition to
inheriting land, Enos purchased from John
Campbell his share, in 1884. Several of their
ten children moved to Bladen to live with
them or nearby. One of these was Hugh Har-
relson and wife, Rebecca Rogers Harrelson,
who moved to Bladen County in 1 886. Thom-
as B. Harrelson, a son, was then two years old.

Lands were on either side of Whites Creek.
The family farmed, and beside a mill pond
operated a grist mill and blacksmith shop.
The soil, suited to growing field crops, was
one of the first in the area growing tobacco.
Today, tobacco, corn, soybeans and peanuts
are grown. It is between Clarkton and Eliza-
bethtown.

In 1916, 16 acres of the original several
hundred acres were deeded to Thomas B.
Harrelson. In 1917, he built the first four
rooms of the present house. (It was remodeled
in 1933). Married in 1918 to Delphia (Dolly)
White, this was their home for their lifetime.
They purchased additional acres of the family
land owned by grandparents. This small farm
is a 53.7 acre tract. Other tracts of the original
estate are owned by cousins. The old home is
in disrepair.

Living on this farm today are Elma Harrel-
son Regan (sister of Fleta L. Harrelson), and
her husband, Dan A. Regan, Jr., retired.
Fleta, retired from the N.C. Extension Ser-
vice as a home economics agent, lives in the
county, and enjoys visiting on the farm.

Thomas B. Harrelson, father of Elma and
Fleta, lived 96 years. He died in 1980. His
wife had died in 1965.

With the interest in family shown by a niece
and nephew, it is felt that this land will contin-
ue to remain in the family for cultivation and
wholesome country living.

Submitted by Fleta L. Harrelson

THE MCCALL FARM

"Willow Bend Farm" is located 5.5 miles
northeast of Clarkton on Burney Ford State
Road 1760, near Horse Shoe Swamp, in the
Brown Marsh Township of Bladen County.
Presently, the farm consists of 233 acres of
farmland, with 66 acres of cropland.

On January 27, 1875, Andrew Franklin
Burney purchased the first 95 acre tract of
land for a price of $.50 per acre. Burney
cleared a field and started building a home.
On April 12, 1876, Burney married Sarah

Eleanor Benson of the Emerson Community,
and brought her to this farm on horseback. In
a good Christian home, they reared a family
of eight sons and two daughters. The Burneys
purchased a second tract of land on March 28,
1877. This tract contained six acres of land.

The Burneys grew cotton, corn, sweet pota-
toes and gardens and raised hogs, cows,
horses, and sheep. Cotton and wool produced
on the farm were transformed into clothing
and bedding for family use. Spinning wheels,
looms, cotton and wool cards were all used in
this process. Cooking was done in fireplaces
and on wood stoves. Oil lamps and fireplaces
provided light.

On February 28, 1911, Andrew Franklin
Burney died. Sarah Eleanor Burney contin-
ued to live on the farm until having a stroke
on July 9, 1 943. She died on August 29, 1 949.

On September 29, 1948, William Howard
Taft McCall and wife, Dorothy Elizabeth
Burney McCall, bought the Andrew F. Bur-
ney farm. The McCalls and their three small
children moved to this farm on December 3,
1948.

Farming tobacco, peanuts, cotton, corn,
and soybeans necessitated the entire family to
become involved in the farming operation.
Sweet potato fields, gardens, and fruit trees
growing on the farm provided fruits and vege-
tables for family use. Dairy, poultry, pork,
and beef products were all produced on the
farm for family use.

In the early 1 950s, electricity became avail-
able and made a big difference in home life.
An electric stove, a freezer, indoor plumbing,
a wringer washing machine, and electric lights
all seemed too good to be true when compared
with wood stoves, oil stoves, block ice, hand
pumps, washboards, and oil lamps.

The Willow Bend Farm provided the
means for rearing the children of W.H. Taft
and Dorothy Elizabeth B. McCall. The first
born, Peggy Joan McCall, married Edgar
Robert Casey, III, of Burgaw, N.C. They have
two children: Jo Anne and William Robert
(Bill). Mrs. Casey is home economics exten-
sion agent in Pender County. The second
born, a son, Howard Franklin McCall, is mar-
ried to Frances Perry Ennis. He has two sons,
David Owen and Henry Randall (Randy).
Mr. McCall is employed by Carolina Power
and Light Company in Raleigh. The third
born and baby, a daughter, Meta Faye
McCall, is married to Wilford Harry Hardin
and lives in Elizabethtown. They have two
children: Crystal Renee and Wilford Harry
Hardin, Jr. (Wilt). Mrs. Hardin is employed
with ASCS-USDA in Bladen County.

Today, crops of tobacco, peanuts, corn and
soybeans continue to be grown on the Willow
Bend Farm. Submitted by W.H. Taft McCall

THE ROBESON FARM

On February 22, 1 792, Jonathan Robeson
and Ann Cain were married. Jonathan was
the son of Colonel Thomas Robeson and
Mary Bartram. Ann was the daughter of Sam-
uel and Susanna Cain. This marriage brought
the land which qualifies us as a Century Farm
family into the Robeson family.

Samuel Cain was the brother of Joseph
Cain, who received a large grant of land along
the Cape Fear River.

Joseph had no children and left his proper-
ty to his niece Ann.

The Robeson home near Tar Heel, N.C. L to R:
Elmira Dunham Robeson, Annie Laurie, Robert
Raymond Robeson, William Raeford Robeson,
Mary Robeson and Evander McNair Robeson.

In 1819 Samuel Robeson, the youngest son
of Jonathan and Ann Robeson, married Eliz-
abeth Ellis. Elizabeth is remembered by her
diary, which has been published by the Bla-
den County Historical Society, and gives a
vivid description of farm life in the 1800s.
Her son, Evander McNair Robeson, served
with the Confederate Army in the Civil War
and returned to the "homeplace" to build a
prosperous farm enterprise including a cotton
gin. Evander became a respected citizen in the
Tar Heel community and served two terms in
the North Carolina State Senate in the late
1800s and early 1900s.

Evander and his wife, Sarah Elmire Dun-
ham, had seven children. Each one received a
farm. James Ellis and Robert Raymond
received the old family home and the adjoin-
ing land. They continued to operate this farm,
growing corn, beans, peanuts, hogs and cows.
They also began to cultivate wheat, rye and
oats. They bought machinery and practiced
modern methods of farming. Tobacco was
introduced and soon replaced cotton as the
main cash crop.

Raymond's daughters, Edna Robeson and
Ida R. Irvine, now own the property and con-
tinue to operate the farm.

Submitted by Ida R. Irvine

THE ROSS FARM

George Cromartie was born to Alexander
and Elizabeth DeVane Cromartie August 14,
1804. George married Mary Jane Hendon
White, February 1 1, 1834., From a previous
marriage, Mary Jane and her husband owned
land that they lost to debt. When put up for
auction, neighbors refused to bid against wid-
owed Mary Jane's $1 bid for the near 1500
acres, and she reacquired the land for $ 1 .

George and Mary Jane had ten children,
one of whom was Richard Bascom Cromar-
tie, born in 1 850.

The family built on their 1 500 acres in late
1834. They later had two other houses, the
"summer house" on higher ground to avoid
malaria and the "winter house" near the
school to which the children walked. Richard
married Hattie Agnes Clark in 1883. In the
early 1 890s, Rich's father gave him the "sum-
mer house." It was torn down and the hand
hewed timbers were used as part of the fram-
ing for the new house. It was built on a high
spot of the near 600 acres then owned by
Richard and Hattie, who had seven children.

Bladen — Brunswick

The Cromartie home in the early 1890s.

Their only son and one daughter died early in
life.

During the early 1900s, Rich gave land
through the farm for the building of the Vir-
ginia Carolina Southern Railroad. The Burw-
ick train station stop was at Rich's store that
also served as a commissary for a sawmill that
operated on the farm. Land and labor, to
build a road that divided the farm, were also
given by the family.

Hattie died in 1924. The property was
divided among the five living girls in the
1940s. Aniese Hendon Cromartie inherited
the homeplace and a share of the farm, where
she and her father lived until 1 940.

The house remained vacant until 1957
when Henry Layton and Jane Hendon
Holmes Ross bought the homeplace and 97
acres of land. Jane is the daughter of Eunice
Cromartie Holmes, one of Rich and Hattie's
daughters. Layton and Jane have remodeled
the house and acquired an additional 62 acres
of the original tract of land. The Ross' have
two children, Sandra Aniese Ross Kelly and
Henry (Hank) Layton Ross, Jr. The farm has
been in production through the years produc-
ing corn, tobacco, soybeans, peanuts and
blueberries. Pine timber stands on about 1 14
acres of the farm. Submitted by Jane H. and

Henry Layton Ross

THE SINGLETARY FARM

A tract of land was bought in 1 828 from
Durrum Lewis by Edward Singletary to add to
his estate in Bladen County. After 160 years,
Isaac W. and Katherine D. Singletary are liv-
ing on a portion of it, and he and his sons farm
it.

Edward Singletary married Mary Ann Grif-
fin. He was a farmer, but not a slave owner.
He grew corn, cotton, cows, sheep, hogs and
chickens. Sheep wool was spun and woven
into cloth by his daughter, Ava.

Wright Singletary, Edward's son, served in
the Civil War, returned later and married
Lucy Morriah Mun Nance, October 30, 1 872.
He inherited a tract of this land, built a house
on it, grew corn and cotton, and also raised
cows and hogs. He lived in the same house
until he was 97 years old.

Wright Singletary had only one son, Calvin
Dawson Singletary, who married Eliza Caro-
line Singletary, March 4, 1897. He built a
home near his father on the same tract of
land. He was a carpenter during winter, but
farmed during summer. Corn, cotton and
tobacco were grown on his tract. A tobacco
barn was built on it, and cows, hogs and chick-
ens were also raised on it.

Calvin Dawson's son, Isaac Wright, mar-
ried Sarah Katherine Davis November 30,
1939. He is semi-retired, and still lives on a
portion of the original land. He has bought
three tracts of land nearby and cleared
enough to make about 145 acres of his own.
He helps his sons tend his farm and grows a
big garden for eating, canning and freezing
vegetables and fruit. Corn, cotton, tobacco,
soybeans, peanuts, milo and small grains
have been grown on his farm. Two tobacco
barns were built on it along with a pack house,
combination stock barn, hog farrowing
house, and topping out house besides his
dwelling house. Nearly 50 years have passed
since he started farming and many improve-
ments have been made on the farm.

The oldest son, Isaac B. Singletary, married
Nina Bryan, September 1 1, 1966. They built
a brick house about l M mile away. He has
bought two farms and rents other land to grow
corn, soybeans and small grain and some
tobacco. He owns 370 acres of land, tends 500
acres in all and has horses, cows, goats, ducks
and sells around 1 800 hogs a year. He keeps
over 1 00 brood sows and has built a farrowing
house and topping out house, also bulk barns,
wood shop and other buildings to shelter his
big equipment. He has applied soil conserva-
tion drainage on his farms. His son, Bryan, is
a sophomore at State college.

J. Dawson Singletary's youngest son mar-
ried Opal Bryan January 10, 1971. After
working about four years, he built a brick
house across the road from Isaac B.'s. He has
tended as much as 45 acres a year of tobacco,
corn, soybeans, milo, peanuts and small
grain. He now tends 475 acres. He has put up
four bulk barns, two grain bins, two equip-
ment shelters and a shop. He owns big tractors
and equipment needed in big farming opera-
tions. He owns about 75 cows which he pas-
tures on the fields in winter on rye.

His sons, Shoul, Bradley and Ashley, hope
to carry on the farm work for many years to
come. Submitted by Katherine D. Singletary

Brunswick County

THE GILBERT FARM

When our country was still young, Moses
Gilbert came to the land on the Lockwood
Folly River in Brunswick County. Moses and
his family settled by the river and began the
Gilbert Farm. By the time of his passing, the
farm had been enlarged to nearly 550 acres.

Robert and John Gilbert assumed owner-
ship of the farm after their father's death.
They worked to improve the farm and by the
time the farm passed to its next owner, the
farm was so prosperous, that I needed addi-
tional labor to continue. Under the guidance
of David Gilbert, the farm continued to pros-
per until the Civil War.

After the war, a new challenge faced many
southern farms, suddenly disposed of needed
labor. Rising to meet this challenge, new own-

Brunswick — Buncombe — Burke

er, William Thomas Gilbert married the girl
next door and together they brought the farm
into the 20th century.

In an era of rapidly expanding technology,
the Gilberts learned to adapt quickly. But the
great depression, which ravaged the nation,
numbered the Gilbert Farm among its many
victims. One by one, the family members left
until only two sons remained. They and their
families struggled and survived.

As the century progressed, more rapid tech-
nological advancements forced the Gilberts
to adjust. With a determination bordering on
stubbornness, the family hung on. Mules gave
way to diesel tractors, corn cribs to steel stor-
age bins and stick barns to bulk curing.

The Gilbert Farm is now run by T.J. Gil-
bert. A sixth generation farmer, T.J. Gilbert
managed the farm through the farm economic
crisis of the 1 980s, determined to hold onto
the family farm. Already, two more genera-
tions of Gilberts are preparing to carry the
Gilbert Farm into the 21st century and
beyond. Submitted by T.J. and Virginia Gilbert

Buncombe County

THE COCHRAN FARM

In the year 1 848, Moses Cochran, my great-
grandfather, secured land grants from the
State of North Carolina totaling 800 acres.
One hundred and fifty of the original tracts
remain today in the Cochran name.

Moses and his wife, Rebecca Davis Coch-
ran, raised two sons, James, my grandfather,
and William. Moses operated a water-run
corn mill and a sawmill. He transacted land
dealings in and outside the community.

Upon Moses' death August 5, 1903, the
property was divided between the two sons,
James and William. They were both farmers
and contributed much to the well-being of the
community. My grandfather, James, married
Ollie Elena Lang of Asheville. They had ten
children, most all of whom were college grad-
uates. With the exception of my father, they
all moved to various parts of the southwest.

Grandfather James died February 22,
1 928. His wife, Ollie, died 1 8 days previously.

My father, Jesse Jerry, bought the farm
from his brothers and sisters. He had previ-
ously built a home on the farm. He started the
dairy in 1924 and operated it for 34 years. I
have the original contract that he signed with
Biltmore Dairy Company. He and my moth-
er, Lenore Reeves Cochran, of Lake
Junaluska, had seven children.

In 1953, fresh out of college and recently
married to Betty Moser Cochran, I operated
the farm for my father, due to ill health, until
he died in 1958. At that time, I bought the
farm from my mother. She lived on the farm
until her death in 1972. I operated the dairy
farm from 1953 to 1987. During that time, I
purchased 20 acres adjoining the farm. As of
August, 1987, the dairy operation terminat-
ed, and I became semi-retired.

This farm is located in a beautiful valley
between two mountain ranges in the Averys
Creek community in Buncombe County just
15 miles from downtown Asheville.

With the help of my wife, Betty, and our
three children, Gail, David and Steven, we
hope to keep the property in the family for
many years to come.

Submitted by Thomas William Cochran

THE ISRAEL FARM

The Israel farm is a well known landmark
in the middle of South Hominy Valley in the
Candler section of Buncombe County.

The Israel homeplace.

In 1848, Jesse T. Israel and his brother,
Thomas Israel, purchased 550 acres from
their uncle, Russel Jones, in the heart of Hom-
iny Valley. After the death of Thomas Israel,
Jesse T. Israel inherited his brother's share.
After the death of Jesse T. Israel, in 1 894, his
youngest song, Russel Lonzo Israel, pur-
chased the original homestead and the house
his father, Jesse T. Israel, built in 1859. The
present owner is Jesse L. Israel, Jr. He pur-
chased in 1961 the homestead from his grand-
mother, Anna Israel, who was the widow of
Russel Lonzo Israel.

Betty and Jesse Israel are the parents of
David Ronald Israel, Lonnie Alan Israel and
Janet Strickland. Jesse, David and Lonnie are
in business together in the corporation. Janet
operates seven greenhouses at the farm with
Jesse. David and Lonnie operate the Garden
Center at the WNC Farmers Market. David
and Lonnie have degrees from N.C. State
University in Ornamental Horticulture.
Greenhouse plants and nursery stock grown
on the farm of Jesse Israel and Sons Nursery
are well known to the people of western North
Carolina. It is one phase of agriculture that
has held the same farm together for so many
years. It has been in the same name for over
140 years. Jesse Israel has five grandchildren
and hopes all or part of them will keep the
business and farm going.

Submitted by Jesse Israel

Burke County

THE LOWMAN FARM

The land which Ivey E. Lowman owns
came by his grandfather, Salvanus Deal, who
purchased it through land grants from about
1 850 to 1875 (the records at our County Seal
are not exactly clear because he had many
[maybe 200 parcels] and he gave Ivey's father,
Zeb Lowman, the parcel he owns now). Ivey
has given his son, Mr. Norman Lowman, part
of his land.

The first homesite has been gone at least 80
years. It was destroyed by fire. Ivey built the
next home in 1 94 1 , and remodeled it in 1956.

The homeplace was partly farmed until
about 1935 or 1936. In 1947 Ivey cleared out
about two acres where he lives at present.

At one time there were signs of an Indian
settlement that was on this property and there

are a few graves on it now.

Submitted by Ivey E. Lowman

THE MARTIN FARM

John (NMI) Martin born October 27,
1822, moved from Cabarrus County. In 1854,
he purchased by estimation 60 square rods for
$.50. In February 22, 1 860, he purchased 1 80
acres from Conrad Hildebrand s heirs, Noah
Hildebrand and others at public sale at Burke
County Courthouse for $191. Additional
land of 69 acres was purchased from Jacob
Mull's heirs March 3, 1 885, for $298. Several
small tracts also were purchased. This land is
located in Lower Fork Township in Burke
County near Camp Creek and Catawba
County Line.

The Martins, along with farming, ran a
store that also was the Chestnut Post Office.

John Martin passed away in 1882, leaving
the farm to his wife, Lovina and two sons,
John W. Martin and James Monroe Martin.
James M. Martin was appointed Postmaster
October 24, 1 884, of Chestnut Post Office
under Postmaster General Frank Hatton.
James also had a job as bookkeeper for the
federal government and was justice of the
peace. Lovina passed away in 1901, leaving
the farm to John W. Martin. In 1927, John
passed away, leaving the farm to his wife,
Susan Rhoney Martin. James Herman Mar-
tin and his father, James Alexander Martin
farmed the land raising wheat, corn, soybeans
and other small grain. They also had some
chickens, milk cows, sheep and hogs. They
also rented several farms in the area.

In the late 1940s, they went to raising beef
cattle along with their crops.

James Herman Martin and Luke Cline
were the first to bring Charolais cattle to
Burke County in 1 960. They purchased a bull
from Dr. Harrell in Lincoln County.

Since 1968, James Herman Martin and
wife, Gloria Mull Martin and two sons, Philip
Herman Martin and James David Martin
have continued to farm the land and other
farms in the area.

There are over 200 acres in the Martin fam-
ily being farmed or rented for farming.

Submitted by J. Herman and Gloria M. Martin

THE McGIMSEY FARM

In 1 882, Theodore C. McGimsey and wife,
Martha Gibbs McGimsey, bought 200 acres
of land along Irish Creek in the Table Rock
section of Burke County from a Mr. Patton. It
was originally part of the John Warlick 750
acre farm bought for $ 1 500 in the early 1 800s

The McGimsey farm built around 1886-87.

57

Burke — Cabanas

This house on the Sisk century farm was built before 1850. It was remodeled in 1 900 and 1901 with an addi-
tion of a dining room, kitchen, pantry and porches. This picture of Pinkney, his wife, Sophia, and sons. Earl
and Beattie, was taken in 1901.

from John Caldwell who had bought it from a
Mr. Alexander for $600.

Theodore McGimsey (November 15,
1835-March 13, 1929) was the fourth genera-
tion of McGimseys to live in Burke County.
His great-grandfather, John, and grandfather,
Joseph Lewis, came from Virginia and settled
in the Linville area where his father, Joseph
Alphonso, also later lived and farmed. After
serving in the Civil War, he married and lived
on his uncle John Collett's farm before mov-
ing to Irish Creek. The family first lived in a
log house built by the Warlicks. In 1 886- 1 887,
they built the present house on a hill overlook-
ing the valley. "Theo" was a very orderly,
methodical, successful farmer. He kept
account and record books. He had a black-
smith shop where he mended and made tools.
The grapevines he set out are still bearing.

At his death, the farm passed to his son,
Joseph Alphonso ("Fons"), and wife, Lucille
Hood McGimsey. She (now living at 1 00) has
passed it on to two children — David W.
McGimsey, a beef farmer, and Margaret E.
McGimsey, a retired teacher. Through the
years, additional adjoining tracts have been
bought and the farm now has a total of 277
acres, 75 acres of which are in pasture for the
herd of beef cattle. David took over the farm
in 1955 when his father ("Fons") died. He has
continued to improve and use recommended
practices on the farm.

There has always been a strong family love
for the land and for this beautiful spot under
the Table Rock. Submitted by D. W. McGimsey

THE SISK FARM

In the northwestern part of Burke County
in the shadow of Table Rock Mountain, along
both sides of Roses Creek, lies the Sisk Centu-
ry farm. In 1851, Selena and Bartlett Sisk paid
their taxes of $ 1.50 for 600 acres. This proper-
ty came to Selena from her parents, John and
Elizabeth Warlick.

Selena and Bartlett had four sons: Sidney,
Phillip, John and Pinkney and two daughters,
Jane and Lizzie.

This was a self-sustaining farm which
included the raising of corn, wheat, peas,
chickens, hogs, cattle, milk cows, molasses,
timber, etc.

In 1 895, Pinkney and his wife, Sophia, paid
Bartlett $400 for 600 acres of land. They
raised four boys and three girls.

In 1926, Beattie, the second eldest son of
Pinkney and Sophia, built a small home on
the farm which they called the Teeny House
to separate it from the big house. He stayed on
the farm, building chicken houses, raising
chickens, teaching school and driving a
school bus until 1 928, when he decided to go
into the Methodist ministry full time, which
was his first love.

After the death of Pinkney in 1933, until
1947, the land was leased by tenant farmers.
In 1943, when the property was divided into
eight different parcels, the acreage was down
to approximately 500 acres due to a differ-
ence in prior deeds. At this time, Beattie A.
Sisk and his wife, Belle, bought his older
brother's share of about 60 acres, which
brought his to approximately 120 acres.
When he died in 1 949, his property was left to
his widow.

In 1 947, a couple of years after their return
from the service, Robert B. and Charles W.

Sisk, sons of Beattie and Belle, and Robert's
family moved to the Teeny house, since their
grandmother and aunt still lived in the big
house. They rented the land from their aunts
and uncles and farmed together about five
years trying to build a white-faced Hereford
cattle farm. Charles loved the farm but like his
father, the Methodist Church beckoned. So in
1953, Robert started a dairy herd consisting
of Holsteins. In 1 950, he bought 50 acres from
one of his uncles and in the next several years,
he bought back all but 1 00 acres of the original
500 acres, including a 52 acre tract that had
been sold by Pinkney in the late 1 890s.

The century farm land still has the Sisk
home built prior to 1 850. It has been continu-
ously occupied since it was built until June,
1986, and is in the process of being restored
now. Submitted by Robert B. Sisk

Cabarrus County

THE EARNHARDT FARM

In January, 1885, Rufus Valentine and
Mary Rose Barnhardt purchased 81.25 acres
of land in Cabarrus County. This original
tract, situated in Number 9 Township and
located two and one half miles south of Mt.
Pleasant, was bought for $725. At this time,
only five acres contained clear land which was
farmed in cotton, corn, wheat and oats. The
couple built their homeplace around 1900,

A painting of the original homeplace of Rufus Barn-
hardt, created by his great-grandson, George
Lindley Barnhardt.

and a log barn which also was constructed
remained in use for the next 80 years.

One of five children, Frank Alexander
Barnhardt, remained at the homeplace. He
and his wife, Dora, along with Rufus, contin-
ued to work the land, clearing an additional
60 acres for crops and pastures. In 1926,
Frank and Dora purchased 2.5 acres of
adjoining property from E.T. Bost. Upon the
death of Rufus Barnhardt, the original prop-
erty was willed to Frank and Dora on May 23,
1941.

Their son, George Frank Barnhardt,
showed interest in farming and as a teenager
began to raise poultry. After his tour of duty in
World War II, George and his wife, Margie,
returned to the farm. In 1946, they acquired
another 58 acres from the Sidney Cox place
and purchased a tractor and other farm
machinery. Hogs were now raised, and truck
farming initiated.

Growth of the farm continued in the 1 960s
as a herd of beef cattle was started and two
ponds were built. George and Margie inherit-
ed the original Barnhardt estate in 1 967. Dur-
ing the 1 970s, additional properties were pur-
chased which contained wood and croplands.
The homeplace of Rufus Barnhardt burned in
1979.

Presently, the combined lands contain over
225 acres. Now retired from farming and for-
ty-four years of public work, George rents out
most of the croplands, but still maintains a
garden plot which was once cultivated by his
grandfather. Plans to keep the century farm
within the family exist since two more genera-
tions of Barnhardts continue to live in the
area. Submitted by George F. Barnhardt

THE COCHRAN FARM

William Cochran born in 1 752, came from
Ireland (with his parents and brothers and sis-
ters) by way of Pennsylvania, to North Caroli-
na. He settled on Footy Creek in Cabarrus
County in 1 799, receiving a land grant from
the State of North Carolina of 1 50 acres.

William married Margery McGinnis, born
1772. Each was born in Ireland. Both the
McGinnis and Cochran families were Scot

Cabarras

James and Louisa Welch Cochran, (ten) children
and grandchildren, circa 1912.

Associate Presbyterians. This couple had five
sons, all of whom are buried at Back Creek
Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church,
Mecklenburg County, and each son has
descendants still active in this congregation.
Their only daughter married late in life and
died without issue. William Cochran is bur-
ied at Rocky River Presbyterian Church
(Spears Graveyard). His wife, Margery, is
buried at Back Creek. We can only assume
that after his death his family joined in the
forming of Bethany/Back Creek A.R.P.
Church when the singing of hymns was intro-
duced into Rocky River. Associates and Asso-
ciate Reformed Presbyterians sang Psalms
only.

This land will soon have been farmed for
200 years. Eugene Wilson Cochran and his
wife, Mary, live on the farm at another loca-
tion. Eugene (great-great-great-grandson of
William) continues to farm the land raising
beef cattle and grains.

William and Margery's third son, Joseph,
built on the land approximately x h mile from
the homesite. This house, built about 1 820, is
also of logs. In 1850, Joseph purchased 30
acres from the State of North Carolina for
$5.00 for every 100 acres; in 1854 he pur-
chased from the State of North Carolina five
acres of land at $.05 an acre, and in 1 856, he
purchased from the State of North Carolina
10.5 acres at $.12 per acre. These tracts
adjoined Joseph's original acreage. Joseph
and his first wife, Ester Ross, lost two sons
(William and Joseph) in the Civil War.

Joseph married the third time to Martha
Sample. Their youngest son remained in the
house. Across from the house was a lumber
mill, grist mill and cotton gin. James and Lou-
isa's grandson, Junius Grier Cochran and
wife, Mary, live in this house today.

Submitted by Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Cochrane

THE MOOSE FARM

David Moose came to America on the good
ship "Brother" from Rotterdam, Holland in
1751, and landed in Pennsylvania.

Since 1 784, seven generations of Mooses
have been landowners and farmers in Cabar-
rus County. David's son, Jacob Moose, came
to North Carolina in 1784, and purchased
220 acres of land on Little Bear Creek near
Mt. Pleasant. His son, George, one of nine
children, continued to live at the homeplace
and farm after his father's death in 1 804. John
Fritch, one of five children, was born here and
married and continued to live in the same
house until his death in 1927. His son, John

Wade, one of nine children, was born here.
When he married, they built a house at the top
of the hill from the old homeplace. At his
father's death, he was willed 72.5 acres (This
is part of the 220 acres of the century farm
land). He purchased additional land of 1 1 2.5
acres. His son, John Forrest, one of four chil-
dren, born 1909, married and built a house
about 400 yards from the old homeplace. He
purchased additional land and farmed, raised
beef cattle and hogs until his death in 1972.
His widow and their daughter, Lynda M.
Boger and her family have lived in this house
since then and her husband, Howard, has con-
tinued to farm. At present they have a large
beef cattle herd and grow small grains and
hay. They have three daughters: Amy, Lori
and Terri, the oldest, who is married and lives
next door to the old homeplace.

Submitted by Mrs. J.F. Moose

THE PENINGER FARM

Morgan A. Walker was born May 23, 1 835.
According to records on March 14, 1859, Paul
B.C. Smith surveyed, with Calvin McGraw
and D.C. Faggart — Chain Bearers. The prop-
erty was bought from John Faggart. A total of
209.25 acres was purchased by Morgan A.
Walker. He was a member of the historic St.
John's Lutheran Church which was organized
in 1745.

The Morgan A. Walker homeplace, constructed
1860.

In December 1858, Morgan married Mar-
garet C. Moose. Two sons were born to this
union: George Henry, in 1859 and John
Davis Walker, in 1861. The only education
they had was in a one room log school for two
or three months a year, heated only with a
fireplace.

Morgan and Margaret lived in a log cabin
on the land they were farming. Construction
for the house began in 1 860. It was not com-
pleted before it was necessary for him to enter
the Civil War in about 1 862. He was a private
in Army. In July 1 863, Morgan was wounded
and later died in battle near Fredrickburg,
Virginia.

His widow hired men to do minimum farm-
ing and complete the interior of the house.
They had one slave. The family called him
"Uncle Jack Walker." He remained with the
family after the Civil War ended. When the
boys were old enough, they took over the farm
and supported their mother from the farm.

Later the farm was equally divided between
the two sons. John remained on the farm, and
married Minnie R. Faggart and they had chil-
dren, six girls and five boys. John farmed until
his death in 1936. The youngest daughter,

Arnie Walker Peninger, continues residing on
75 acres of land with a portion being farmed.

The house with 50 acres of land was sold in
1978 to Mr. Eugene Boelte. It is presently
being restored and the farm back in full family
operation. Submitted by Annie Peninger

THE PLESS FARM

Six generations of the Pless family have
owned and worked the same 80 acres of land
since the mid-1 700s. This tract of land is
located in Cabarrus County, Township 5, at
the Rowan County line. Christopher Pless, a
German emigrant, settled this land which he
purchased in 1 762.

Over the next 200 years, Christopher's
descendants, Henry, Jacob, Daniel, Welker,
and Carl grew corn, cotton, small grains,
watermelons and sweet potatoes. Livestock
on the farm included beef cattle, swine, chick-
ens, turkeys and sheep.

Jacob Pless, a grandson of Christopher,
operated a custom tannery from the mid to
late 1800s. According to the tanning records,
neighbors brought all types of hides to be
tanned. He used some of the leather to make
shoes in his shop.

Several old structures still stand on this 80
acre site: a hewn log barn, a shoe shop, and a
hewn log smoke house. The barn was built
during the late 1700s. A later addition con-
tains a threshing floor. At the present time,
Carl D. Pless, Sr. uses all these structures.

Submitted by Carl D. Pless, Sr.

THE WALKER FARM

In October 1 770, Adam Walcher (Walker)
purchased 1 00 acres on Dutch Buffalo Creek
from Jacob and Catharine Richey (Ritchie).
This is recorded in Mecklenburg Deed Book
5-153. On October 9, 1783, Adam Walcher
secured a state grant (#276) for 914 acres on
Dutch Buffalo Creek in Mecklenburg Deed
Book 1 2-655. There is a spring that is "walled
up" with native rocks on a hill near the creek
where the original Walker house was built.

John W. Walker reared his family in this, the Walk-
er house.

September 4, 1 970, Adam Walker and wife,
Christina sold 9 1 acres of his old plantation to
Jacob Ritchie and 1 00 acres to Henry Walker.
This land was a part of 245 acres which was
granted to Jacob Ritchie on June 25, 1 764 by
Arthur Dobbs.

Adam Walcher, who was born on May 16,
1 722, died October 7, 1 80 1 . In his will which
is dated July 5, 1800, his land was divided
among his children, Michael, Henry, Freder-
ick, Elizabeth, Catherina and Barbara (Barba-

59

Cabanas — Caldwell

ra was deceased so it was divided between her
children).

Henry Walker had a son, Henry born Octo-
ber 1, 1810, and died April 17, 1887. This
Henry had a son, John W. Walker, born
August 14, 1 84 1 . A new house was built where
young John reared a large family. While serv-
ing the south, John was engaged in battles in
Maryland and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He
was so impressed with the barns there that he
came home and built one like he had seen.
Most of this barn is still standing. He died
March 28, 191 6. The land was divided among
his children. One of the children was John
Turner Walker, born August 4, 1880, and
died July 4, 1 966. Sarah E. Walker and Edith
Walker, daughters of John T., now own about
1 50 acres of the original land. It is the wish
that this land will continue to be in the Walker
line of heirs. Submitted by M. Edith Walker

Caldwell County

THE BARTLES FARM

In 1774 Peter Thompson purchased 217
acres of prime farmland and timber along the
Lower Creek and quickly built a rude long
cabin. Late in 1 774, he began to build his wife
"a real home." Sometime in 1775 the house
was finished. Peter Thompson died about
1830, and the farm and blacksmith shop
passed into the hands of John Thompson, the
youngest son.

The old Bartles house in Lenoir, N. C.

John continued in his father's footsteps,
hammering out a living in the blacksmith
shop and also selling produce off the farm.

John died July 19, 1855, and the old house
passed on to a son, Elkanah.

When Elkanah took up residence in the old
house, the cabin built by Peter was long gone,
but the magnificent five-room "main house"
and the adjoining three-room "kitchen
house" were as good as new. The farm had
grown, with an addition to the blacksmith
shop, a granary, a wagon-house, and a larger
barn having been built.

After a time, Elkanah decided it was best if
the family moved to Lenoir, but he wanted to
keep the old house in the family. The problem

was solved when James Richard Swanson,
who had married Elkanah's daughter, Mary
Lucy Thompson, offered to swap the home-
stead for his property in Lenoir. The transac-
tion was made in 1915.

J.R. Swanson, also a blacksmith, added a
piece of history to the property when he built
a shed out of logs and lumber from the old
Hibriten School.

Upon J.R.'s death, the old house became
the property of his son, Richard D. Swanson.
J.R.'s wife lived in the old house until shortly
before her death, after which it was rented for
a short time. Richard's daughter, Rebecca
Davis, and her family lived in the old house
from 1936 to 1966. Richard's other daughter,
Brenda Bartles, and her husband, lived in the
old house from 1968 to 1970 until their new
home was built beside the old home.

The 2 1 7 acres have dwindled to eleven. The
wagon house and granary have been torn
down and the blacksmith shop was demol-
ished in the late 1950s. After 196 years, pro-
viding home for many families, it is empty
and showing signs of age. The old house still
stands, nestled among the ancient walnut and
cedar trees, the hitching post still there in the
front yard. Submitted by Mrs. Brenda Bartles

THE BEACH FARM

Zeror Beach was born in April, 1837. He
was one of 1 5 children whose parents lived in
eastern Caldwell County.

Zeror Beach and wife, Lizzie.

In 1861, the Civil War was speeding up and
Zeror became a member of the 2nd Co. from
Caldwell County under Capt. Rankin. In the
war years, he was wounded twice, the last time
most seriously at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
in 1863. He was given 90 days furlough and
made his way home. For some reason the fur-
lough was extended another 90 days, after
which he reported back for duty in Virginia.
He was soon captured by the enemy near
Appomattox and held until the war's end in
1865.

Some time after returning home, Zeror
started buying small plots of land. His first
deed, registered in 1871 in Lenoir, was for a
small section of land near Kings Creek. In that
year he married Sarah Elizabeth Maltba. In
1 886, he recorded three more deeds, and two
more in 1889 and 1890. During these years,
he and Lizzie had nine children. Zeror died in
1894, leaving a wife and seven children with
ages ranging from 22 to 5. The oldest, W.R.
Beach, went off to school and became a Bap-
tist minister. The second son, Henry Malone
Beach, stayed at home to help his mother and
the younger children.

Malone became a teacher, teaching in the
schools of Caldwell County for some 25 years.
H.M. Beach was married in 1907 to Clara
Edna Hass. They had four children. Ruby
Beach Carlton, was the third child.

As time passed and the family grew, more
acreage was added to the farm. The first deed
recorded in 1900 was followed by twelve
more deeds until 1 953.

They raised cattle, hogs, chickens and
sheep. The farm produced corn, wheat, oats,
rye and potatoes. They regularly sold eggs,
chickens, milk and produce. The grain crops
were used for feed for the animals, and some-
times taken to the nearest mill to be ground
into flour and meal for bread. There were
apple trees of several varieties, a peach
orchard, pear trees and an abundant supply of
berries. Clara canned and dried summer
fruits and vegetables, and canned meats from
the butchered animals. The family bought
very few groceries as they had such a variety
of foods at home. After the REA brought elec-
tricity to the area, many improvements were
made in food preservation by the use of the
freezer and refrigerator.

Ruby Beach Carlton's father, H.M. Beach
(Malone), was a farmer, a teacher, a lumber-
man, and Baptist lay leader for more than six-
ty years. He died at 81 in 1956. The farm,
more than 200 acres by that time, was divided
by his will. His only son Horace Beach, was
given the area north of Highway 1 8 (east of
Lenoir) and Ruby Beach Carlton received the
area on the south side of the same stretch of
Highway 18. Horace died at 49, and his son,
Neil Beach, now looks after the farm which is
rented — both pastures and house.

Some four years ago Ruby had 50 acres of
woodland cut and white pines were planted.
They seem to be growing well. The N.C. For-
est Service in Lenoir was Ruby's advisor in
this project. Submitted by Mrs. Ruby B. Carlton

THE HAGLER FARM

The Hagler farm, located in Caldwell
County, Grandin Community, Tom Dooley
Road, has been in the Hagler family for eight
generations.

The Hagler house, built in 1832 by William Hagler.

In 1 730, John Hagler, Sr. was born in Swit-
zerland. He came to America as a young man
and married Elizabeth Van Hoose in New
York State. After their marriage, they came to
the Carolinas and settled on the Pee Dee Riv-
er where they owned a large farm. Due to
chills and fever, they moved further up the
river. Their final stop was in Wilkes County,
this part being now Caldwell County, and

Caldwell — Camden

purchased a large farm at the mouth of Kings
Creek.

John Hagler lived in a sizeable log house
located on a hill overlooking the Yadkin Riv-
er. Later, in 1832, John's son, William, built
a large brick home, known as Beech Hill. The
log house was used as a kitchen.

John and Elizabeth had a large family.
Most of these children moved away. William,
their sixth son, remained on the farm, mar-
ried Elizabeth Mullins and reared a family of
ten sons and three daughters. William fought
in the War of 1 8 1 2. Back on the farm, he grew
large crops of corn, oats, and tobacco and
owned several slaves.

The Hagler farm has been handed down for
eight generations, first to William Hagler, son
of John; then to Sarah Hagler Kendall, grand-
daughter of John; then to Sarah Kendall Fer-
guson, Sarah's daughter; then to Blanche Fer-
guson. Edith Ferguson Carter, Blanche's
niece, and her husband, Hill Carter, bought
the farm from Blanche. It is now owned by
Edith and Hill's daughter and son-in-law,
Margaret Ferguson Carter Minton and Mon-
ty Minton. They have a daughter, Margaret
Lindsay Minton, who will inherit the farm.
Margaret Lindsay Minton is the great-great-
great-great-great-granddaughter of John
Hagler.

The farm has been in the family continu-
ously from about 1770 to the present day.
Margaret Carter Minton's father, Hill Carter,
still farms the land and raises beef cattle and
crops and does timber farming. The old home
has been restored and is on the National Reg-
ister of Historic Places. Monty Minton did
most of the restoration work himself. He is in
the lumber business and Margaret is an art
teacher and artist. We have a tremendous
interest in the farm and hope to see it continue
to be owned by family members.

Submitted by Margaret Carter-Minton

THE SHERRILL FARM

The Sherrill farm, located in southeastern
Caldwell County is part of a land grant given
to Joshua Perkins, the nephew of Adam Sher-
rill, in 1 755. Adam, for whom Sherrill's farm
was named, was the first white man to cross
the Catawba River and settle there. His son,
Captain William Sherrill, commissioned dur-
ing the Revolutionary War, had a daughter,
Mary, who married Joshua Perkins.

Jacob Sherrill, son of Captain William
Sherrill and brother-in-law of Joshua Perkins,
evidently was one of the Sherrills who settled
up river on this land. It is not known when this
happened, perhaps before 1 800. He died in
1831, and was buried across the Catawba Riv-
er from the farm in Moore's Cemetery.

The farm lies on the north side of the
Catawba River. Originally it extended along
the river from the Alexander, Caldwell Coun-
ty line to the Gunpowder River. It has been
handed down from father to son several
times. Due to a courthouse fire, the first deed
found in the direct line was 70 acres deeded by
Joseph William Sherrill to John Abernathy
Sherrill in 1 890. In 1 9 1 1 , 60 acres were deed-
ed by John A. Sherrill to Tate H. Sherrill.
After his death and the death of his son, Ray
A. Sherrill, the present owner, Mary L. Sher-
rill Teague, daughter of Tate H. Sherrill,
received the land which is now 45 acres since

the remaining acreage was covered by the
backwater of Oxford Dam.

One of the original buildings is still stand-
ing, a century old smokehouse built of logs by
John A. Sherrill. The other buildings are 60 or
more years old.

It has been a family operated farm growing
corn, small grain, hay and garden produce.
During some years, cotton and tobacco were
grown as money crops. In addition to the cul-
tivated land, there are woodlands and pasture
for livestock.

Submitted by Howard and Mary Teague

Camden County

THE BRAY FARM

Mary Ann Bray, an eighth generation
North Carolinian, was born July 27, 1845, to
Dempsey Bray, a farmer and miller, and his
wife, Jane. Dempsey's father was Samuel
Bray, Camden County surveyor and farmer,
and Jane's father was William Gray, Revolu-
tionary War soldier from Camden and after
the War a landowner and farmer.

Weston Williams, a Rhodes Scholar, took this pic-
ture of the Bear Garden home on August 29, 1920
while he was visiting "Uncle Simmie" and his fami-
ly. The picture was taken on the present owner's first
birthday.

In 1 882, Mary Ann bought "The Bear Gar-
den" with her inheritance from her father's
estate. In 1866, she had married Simeon Wil-
liams, a farmer. BearGarden became home to
her and her growing family. The children
were taught to love work and to have a thirst
for knowledge. Charles was sent to Wake For-
est where he graduated summa cum laude.

Mary Ann died in 1 903. Her sons, Simeon
and Nathan, bought the shares of Bear Gar-
den inherited by Ella and Molly, and Charles,
who had become an educator and writer. Sim-
eon married Elizabeth (Lizzie) Needham, a
school teacher from Camden in 1905. They
had three sons: Worth, 1912; Bailey, 1914
and Charles, 1919. Worth was killed by a
drunken driver in 1 930. Times were hard dur-
ing the Depression, but somehow Simeon and
Lizzie managed to send Bailey and Charles to
Duke University, where Bailey graduated in
1941 and Charles in 1942. They joined the
U.S. Navy for the duration of World War II in
August of 1 942. upon their release to inactive
duty in 1946, Simeon gave Bailey a farm he
had bought in 1 909, and to Charles he gave his
share of Bear Garden. Bailey sold his farm to
Charles and later became Plant Manager of a
children's clothing manufacturer in Forest
City.

Charles and his wife, Aiko, a Regional Ser-
vice Representative with the N.C. Depart-
ment of Social Services until her retirement in
1988, raised their six children on Bear Gar-
den. All are married now. Worth is manager
of a utility company; Lynn is a floral designer
(she decorated Tryon Palace for the Christ-
mas season for the past two years); Giles is a
CPA in Chapel Hill; Camille is a clinical ther-
apist; Suzanne is Directorof Personnel for the
N.C. Department of Commerce; and Simeon
is a farmer. There are fourteen grandchildren.

Giles bought the remaining shares of Bear
Garden in 1986 and Simeon now tends the
entire farm. His farm operation which
includes several farms owned by him, his
brother Giles, and his father is called "Bear
Garden Farms" in honor of his great-
grandmother who bought Bear Garden one
hundred and seven years ago.

This century farm has been a wholesome
place for the children of each generation who
lived here. Submitted by Charles B. Williams

THE FEREBEE FARM

Though early forebears settled around the
Hampton Roads area in Virginia, there were
Ferebee landowners in northeastern North
Carolina by the early 1 700s.

L to R: William LaRue, Assistant Editor, "The Pro-
gressive Farmer," 'presents 1961 Master Farm
Family Award to Ed, "Harry, "and Clay Ferebee.

Ferebee holdings in Camden County today
include the original 400 acres owned by Miles
and Matilda Grandy Lamb, whose daughter,
Miriam, married Edmund Ferebee in 1847.
This began the Ferebee line of ownership,
though the Lamb family had holdings prior to
that date.

In 1900, Miles Lamb's grandson, Henry
Clay Ferebee, ran the farm with cattle and cot-
ton as his main crops. His son, Henry Clay
Ferebee, Jr., bought out the other heirs at
their father's death in 1 929, and he continued
with the cattle and cotton and added hogs and
vegetable crops.

"Harry" Ferebee, as he was affectionately
called, developed a highly respected produce
business and prospered. The original 400
acres grew to 700 by 1 940. After World War II
Harry and Sallie Ferebee's sons, Henry Clay,
III, and John Edwin, came home to help their
father and began an expansion program
which grew to 1 400 acres. Production concen-
trated on cabbage, potatoes, sweet corn and
grain and a registered Aberdeen Angus herd.
Marketing stretched all along the east coast
and into Canada.

At Harry Ferebee's death, the sons contin-
ued the operation and increased acreage to
2200, all working around the original 400.
Clay and Ed continued their partnership until

Camden

1 985, when the land was divided. The original
homeplace is still the center of a farming oper-
ation with both brothers farming a portion in
their divided share.

Great-great-great-grandchildren of Miles
and Matilda Lamb are now working the land
and a new generation of children are on the
way to carry on the legacy. The family ceme-
tery behind the original homeplace bears tes-
timony to the long line of family landowners
who have tilled the soil for over 1 50 years.

Submitted by Mrs. Clay Ferebee

THE MULLEN FARM

The 225 acre farm and house are located in
Camden County on a state road which is now
named "Mullen Drive," and faces the Dismal
Swamp Canal which was surveyed by George
Washington and is a part of the Intracoastal
Waterway. It was owned by John Old from
1 826- 1 830; by William Old from 1 830- 1 868;
and by Dr. F.N. Mullen from 1868-1900. Dr.
Mullen willed it to his brother, Stephen, who
in turn deeded it to his eldest son, Francis
Newby Mullen in 1900. Mullen rented a part
out on shares, tending his part with horses and
mules, also raising hogs, cows, chickens and
geese. When he passed away in 1 960, the farm
was inherited by his children, one of whom
was Herbert T. Mullen, Sr., who rented the
farm out on shares as he was in business. The
crops were and still are wheat, corn and beans.
In the early 1 900s, there were no roads to the
market, so the produce was loaded on barges
and sent to Norfolk, some 30 miles away by
way of the canal.

The John Old home from 1826-30, at which time it
was sold to William Old. Now owned by the Mullen
Family and called "Oakley Cottage. "

At the death of Herbert T. Mullen, Sr., in
1 979, the farm was inherited by his son, Her-
bert T. Mullen Jr., and daughter, Rebecca M.
Tarkington, in whose names it is recorded.

A large well kept barn is still used. The sta-
bles were torn down in 1984. Still standing are
the house, milk house, smokehouse, privy,
and the well which is used to water the 40
sheep. It is covered for safety purposes. A
family cemetery is located in the field.

Florence Vienna Old, daughter of William
Old and great-grandmother of Herbert and
Rebecca was born in the now standing house
in 1850; married to Stephen Mullen here —
died 1933, in this same house where she was
living with her son, F.N. Mullen, Sr.

Submitted by Herbert T. Mullen, Jr.

THE NEEDHAM FARM

Bailey Cartwright Needham was 29 when
he bought this farm on January 25, 1886. He
was named after his grandfather and was a
descendant of Thomas Needham and Marga-
ret Bayley Needham who moved from Virgin-
ia to the Camden area and bought land in
1732.

The Bailey Needham family, 1897 — L to R: Nan-
nie, Bailey, Charlie, John (holding hat), Baby
Ferebee, Bettie, Lizzie and Jane.

Bailey had married Bettie Lamb, daughter
of Isaac Lamb and Jane Gregory Lamb on
January 29, 1882. When they moved to their
new home in 1 886, they had a three year old
son, Charles, and a one year old daughter,
Elizabeth or Lizzie as she was called. Bailey
settled down to farming and later he kept a
country store next to the house for many
years. As the years passed other children were
born: Nannie, 1889; Jane, 1890; and John,
1 892. The last was Ferebee, born in 1 896, who
died young. Charles grew up to farm with his
father and they each bought other farms near-
by. Lizzie was sent to the Elizabeth City Acad-
emy and became a school teacher. Nannie
married a farmer. Charles and Jane, neither
married, continued to live on the farm after
their father's death in 1 908 until their mother
died in 1927. Lizzie married Simeon Bray
Williams, a farmer, in 1905. They are sur-
vived by two children, Bailey Needham Wil-
liams and Charles Bray Williams.

When Bettie died in 1927, her other chil-
dren sold their interest in the farm to Nannie
and Jane. Nannie died in 1953. Charles had
died in 1940 leaving no children and Nannie
and Jane had no children. After Jane's death
in 1975, John's children (Retha, Norma and
Joan) and Bailey sold their shares in the farm
to Bailey's brother, Charles.

The old house has been vacant now for a
long time. Many of the windows are broken
and vines and briars have grown over the long
porch where the children played. Some of
Charles' earliest and happiest recollections
are of visits to grandmother's house. She was
the only grandparent Charles ever knew.
Charles, along with his brother and cousins,
would play in the yard and up the lane
referred to in the original deed as the "Need-
ham Lane." When they were called to the din-
ner table that was a treat fit for a king. Their
Aunt Jane would read us children stories or
play the phonograph for us. Charles thought
he had never seen anything so marvelous in
his life.

Charles' son, Simeon, tends the farm now.
He is married to the former Catherine Byrun

and they have two children, Courtney and
Simeon or "Simmie." He tends several other
farms, including two of his own. Catherine is
a dental hygienist. Simeon is 29 and Courtney
is two just as his great-grandfather and grand-
mother were one hundred and three years ago
when Bailey Cartwright Needham bought this
farm. Submitted by Charles Bray Williams

THE SAWYER FARM

South Mills in Camden County is the home
of an historic farm known as the "Battle-
ground." This farm has been passed down
through seven generations of the Sawyer fam-
ily. The first 50 acres of the farm were pur-
chased by William Sawyer on December 10,
1 843, from Matchet Taylor for $300. William
later bought 175 more acres from Matchet
Taylor on January 25, 1847, for $240. This
began the long history of the Sawyer family
farm. William Sawyer's son, Grandy Sawyer
inherited the farm from his father on January
26, 1868, but not before the farm gained its
nickname.

The third and fourth generation owners of the "Bat-
tleground. " The third generation owner, Charles
Sawyer, and his wife, Dorothy, are seated in the pic-
ture. The fourth generation owner, Eunice Sawyer
Rhodes, is standing in the second row on the far left.
Hazel Albertson's father, Herbert Sawyer, is stand-
ing in the second row.

On April 1 9, 1 862, an important battle dur-
ing the Civil War took place on the Sawyer
family farm. This battle, known as the "Battle
of Sawyer's Lane" or the "Battle of South
Mills" was fought for control of the locks at
South Mills which controlled the level of
water in the strategic Dismal Swam Canal. A
small Confederate force of 450 men success-
fully turned back a Yankee force of between
2,000 and 3,000 troops. One of the keys to the
success of the battle was a large trench that
was dug across the field and into the woods by
the Confederate forces. There was also a large
drainage ditch that the Confederate troops
filled with wood and set afire. The smoke
blew in the direction of the Yankee troops and
obscured the Confederate soldiers from view.
This ditch became known as the roasted
ditch. The ditch and part of the trench are still
visible to this day.

Grandy Sawyer farmed the land until Sep-
tember 20, 1889, when he left the land to his
son, Charlie Sawyer. Charlie Sawyer main-
tained the farm through the first half of the
20th century during which time farming tech-
niques changed drastically. Corn, soybeans
and cotton were the primary crops grown on
the battleground during those years. Cotton
declined in popularity due to the amount of

Camden — Carteret — Cas well

labor involved and crops such as small grains
that required mechanical harvesters replaced
it.

Charlie Sawyer's daughter, Eunice Rhodes
inherited the farm on September 5, 1950.
Shortly before this time, one of Charlie Saw-
yer's granddaughters, Hazel Albertson and
her husband, Jarvis Albertson, began farming
the land. They continued farming the land for
Eunice Rhodes along with their son and son-
in-law. Albertson Farms, Inc. was later
formed with Jarvis, his son, Melvin Albert-
son, and his son-in-law, Randolph Keaton.
Albertson Farms, Inc. purchased the Battle-
ground from Eunice Rhodes on September 1,
1978. Melvin's son, Melvin Ray Albertson,
Jr. later joined the corporation and marks the
seventh generation of Sawyers.

Albertson Farms, Inc. plans to continue
farming the battleground as it strives to main-
tain the proud heritage that was begun in
1 843. Submitted by Randy Keaton

THE WALSTON FARM

Mark R. Gregory was born July 12, 1825,
died November 26, 1 886. He married Melissa
Brown. They had several children and they
were all born here at the homeplace.

One was Saresta Ann Gregory, born
November 16, 1848, married George Dana
Broadman Pritchard November 19, 1872,
died April 16, 1893. She left this farm to her
children (she had seven, two of whom died
young).

Maude Pritchard (born June 6, 1884) was
one of her children. She married Charles
Hughes Walston. They had three children:
Maxine Walston, Carol Walston and Charles
Hughes Walston, Jr. She died August 21, 1957
and left this farm to the three children.

Charles Hughes Walston, Jr. bought his sis-
ter's part. He married Sarah E. Tarkington.
He died July 15, 1985, and left the farm to
Sarah. Sarah has one son, Charles Francis
Walston, and the farm will go to him at her
death. Submitted by Sarah Tarkington Walston

Carteret County

THE HARDESTY FARM

In 1842, Benjamin Hardesty purchased
property which became known as Hardesty
Farm. Today Benjamin's great-grandson,
Archie R. Hardesty, and his wife, Sadie, are
still farming the land.

The Hardesty house, Carteret County.

At the time of the purchase, there was a
house on the property in which Benjamin and
his wife, Euphamy, raised their family, a total

of 16 children. It was known as the "Big
House" and one of the upstairs rooms was
used as a schoolroom during the week. On
Saturdays dances were held and on Sunday
mornings church services were held in the
schoolroom. In the attic, a loom was built
under the eaves. Large rafters were used in
constructing the house and were put together
with wooden pegs. The stair railings were also
pegged. The original flooring, chair railing,
doors and windows are in use today. Since
purchased by the Hardestys the house has
never spent a night alone.

During the Civil War the older sonsjoined
the Confederate Army and were stationed at
Fort Macon. They contracted diphtheria and
were sent home. The disease quickly spread
through the family taking the lives of all the
children except William, who was six months
old at the time. Another son, Robert E. Lee
was born in 1 866.

Lee inherited the farm and married Idora
Weeks. Again the house was full of children, a
total of 12. Archie, the youngest son, inherit-
ed the farm upon his father's death in 1953.
He married Sadie Small and together they
brought three more children to the old house.

The land has always been used to support
the family. In the early days, they had turpen-
tine trees, tar beds, rice patties, orchards and
grape arbors, as well as a garden and the field
crops. There was also a wind-driven grist mill
which they used not only to grind their own
meal, but also that of people from miles
around. Today the millstones are lying in the
yard.

As time went on the crops changed. In the
early 1930s, Archie started "truck farming"
with cabbage, beans, potatoes, sweet pota-
toes, corn, soybeans, tobacco and cotton. And
there was always a milk cow or two, pigs,
chickens and turkeys. Today, aside from a
five acre garden, the main crops are corn and
soybeans. Submitted by Linda H. Miller

Caswell County

THE ALDRIDGE FAMILY

William Bradley Bowe ( 1 808- 1 880) owned
several hundred acres of land two miles north
of Yanceyville. Besides his holdings of a num-
ber of slaves, he owned and operated a leather
tannery. His daughter, Hulda G. Bowe ( 1 84 1 -
1926), inherited 157 acres of land from her
father in 1867, when she married Felix M.
Neal, who farmed the land until his death.
There was one daughter, Ada, by this mar-
riage.

Hulda then married James D. Aldridge in
1 882, and one daughter, Mable, and one son,
William Preston, were by this marriage.
James D. Aldridge died in 1899. His son,
Preston, arranged with his two sisters to give
each of them $500 and promised to keep their
mother, Hulda, for the rest of her life in
exchange for a clear deed to the farm at the
mother's death. They agreed.

In 1910, Preston married Annie Lee Gunn
and with the help of their five boys and one
girl, farmed the land until his death in 1941.
In his will, Preston provided for the five sur-
viving children to inherit the farm at their
mother's death, and ask that the land remain
in the Aldridge family as long as possible. He
specified that the only daughter, Ida Lee,
receive the homeplace and 25 acres of land;

the rest of the farm be divided equally by acres
between the surviving boys: Jim, Ralph,
Eugene, and William. The mother died in
1 968 and in 1 969, the division was made.

Ralph, Eugene and William served in the
U.S. Army in World War II. William returned
to the farm in 1 945 and grew beef cattle on the
farm until the late 1970s.

Today about 127 acres of the original farm
is still in the family. Two of the sons live on
this part of the farm, and all of the tillable land
is being farmed by a neighbor. A fifth genera-
tion member of the Aldridge family, Sandra
Aldridge Turbeville and her husband, Jimmy,
now own the homeplace house and farm.
Plans are for the 27 acres owned by Ralph and
Helen Aldridge be left to a sixth generation of
three grandchildren and it is requested in
their will that the land stay in the Aldridge
family as long as possible.

Submitted by The Ralph Aldndges

THE BRANDON FARM

David Lawson Brandon married Susan
McDowell on October 1 , 1 833. They had five
children; the youngest were twins, Louisa and
Aniva. Aniva died when small. Mary Ann, the
oldest, was born November 1, 1836. When
she was seven years old, her mother died, and
was buried in Virginia.

Mary Ann Brandon married Benjamin Alg-
ernon Stephens on December 18, 1858, the
oldest of ten boys, and two girls who died as
infants, of Iverson Green Stephens and wife,
Jane Frazier, who were married on August 2 1 ,
1 834. Jane was the daughter of William Fra-
zier and Elizabeth Lipscomb.

Ben and Mary Ann lived with his parents
until August, 1861, when Iverson was sick,
and Ben and Mary were expecting their sec-
ond child. Jane suggested Ben and Mary
move from near Leasburg, to her father's
home near Milton. Iverson died in August,
1861. It was said Iverson and Jane were both
born in August, married in August, and died
in August.

Ben worked with his father-in-law, who had
a cotton gin, tan yard, and small shoe and
boot factory, until he joined the Civil War
nine months before it ended. The Civil War
ended April 9, 1 865. Ben came home that year
and made a crop.

On September 10, 1868, Susan Brandon
died with a fever and was buried on the Bran-
don farm. On April 18, 1869, David Lawson
Brandon died, and was buried on his farm
beside his daughter, Susan. Mary Ann had
two sisters living. Mary Ann got the home
house and land around it.

Alice Flora Stephens married John Richard
Bradsher on September 6, 1896. John took
Flora to his home in Olive Hill Township,
Person County that afternoon. They had five
children. The oldest, a boy, died at birth, and
was buried in the Lea Family cemetery on
their farm.

On July 9, 1906, Mary Ann Brandon died
and was buried in the Brandon cemetery. On
November 5, 1915, Benjamin Algernon Ste-
phens died and was buried beside his wife in
the Brandon cemetery on his farm.

Flora Stephens Bradsher inherited 24.12
acres of land from her parents, Ben A. Ste-
phens and wife, Mary Ann Brandon. Flora
deeded this land to her son, Bennie, because
he did not go to college and his sisters did. Flo-

63

ra died on March 1 8, 1 954, and John died on
May 2, 1955. Both were buried in the Lea
family cemetery on their farm.

Bennie willed his farm to me, Bessie Mary
Bradsher. Bennie died on December 22,
1974, and was buried near his parents in the
Lea family cemetery. The farm was originally
Brandon land, but it is now the John Lea
Farm. The farm has been in the family for
over two hundred years. It was entered in the
Century Farm Families in 1970, 1975 and
1 980. Submitted by Bessie Mary Bradsher

THE EARP FARM

In 1884 Smith Lawson Earp bought 37'/:
acres of land in Caswell County from William
A. Forbes and his wife, Virginia V. Forbes.
This property is situated near the Virginia
line in the corner of Caswell and Person coun-
ties.

The Earp house which was rebuilt in 1948.

Smith Lawson Earp also bought a tract of
land in 1 890 known as the Tenyard Farm con-
taining 1 12 acres. This tract of land joins the
37'/2 acres on the west side.

Real estate tax in 1 884 amounted to $2.00.
One hundred years later in 1984 tax on the
same property was $506.37.

The homeplace was destroyed by fire and
another home was built in 1 948.

The family of Smith Lawson Earp and wife,
Cora Hendricks Earp, has lived on this farm
continuously for 103 years. There were 11
children by this marriage and seven lived to
maturity.

Tobacco and food crops have been the
main industries.

The oldest son had a small tobacco crop
each year, and paid his way through college.

The father died in 1 908 and the mother had
the responsibility of rearing the children
thereafter. She died in 1942.

As each child married and left home, his or
her property was bought by the one left.
Today the last member remaining is Miss
Novella Earp, age 83. She was arranged for
her nephew, James Penn Earp, to inherit the
farm at her death. Submitted by Novella Earp

THE RICE FARM

On February 27, 1872, William H. Rice
and his wife, Sarah, bought 350 acres of land
from his brother, Stephen A. Rice. Situated in
southwestern Caswell County near Camp
Springs, the land was hilly with many acres of
good farmland and countless acres of prime
timberland. W.H. Rice paid $205 forthefarm
and thus began many years of Rice descen-
dants farming on the land.

Caswell

The Rice family in the early 1900s.

W.H. and Sarah Rice had ten children,
many of whom died early in their lives. For
many years the family raised tobacco, milked
cows, and grew many other crops. They lived
in a small wood-frame house built in the early
1800's.

After W.H. and Sarah died, the farm was
divided between the remaining children.
However, in 1903, only George D. Rice and
Thomas M. Rice continued to farm the land.
George D. Rice and Cora L. Vinson were mar-
ried in 1902, and they lived in a handsome
two-story house built around 1 885. They had
one child, Stephen N. Rice, born in 1 904. The
family raised tobacco, milked cows and grew
various other crops. George Rice also worked
as a bookkeeper in a tobacco warehouse in
Reidsville.

George D. Rice died in 1919, leaving the
farm to his wife, Cora, and his brother, Thom-
as. In 1920, Thomas sold his portion of the
farm to Cora. By that time, all of the farm pre-
viously divided after W.H. Rice's death had
been acquired and all but 50 acres of the origi-
nal farm was owned by Cora Rice.

Cora Rice died in 1 952, leaving the farm to
Stephen N. Rice, the only heir. He married
Sadie Lee Pegram in 1 929, and at the time of
Cora's death, they had five daughters: Mar-
tha, Betty, Kathleen, Grey and Janice. They
grew tobacco, raised cows and did general
farming. However, by 1968, all of their chil-
dren were married and were not involved
with the farm as they had been earlier.

Both S.N. and Sadie Rice have been active
members of the Cherry Grove Community
and of Camp Springs United Methodist
Church. In addition, Stephen Rice played an
active role in the founding of both the South-
ern Caswell and Cherry Grove Ruritan Clubs.
As of 1 987, Stephen and Sadie still live on the
farm which reached its current size of 388
acres during the 1 940s. They hope their heirs
will continue to own the land as pridefully as
they have. Submitted by David C. Vernon

THE RICHMOND FARM

This farm is located in Caswell County,
Leasburg Township on Highway 119,
between Highway 1 58 and Highway 86, about
eight miles east of Yanceyville, 1 5 miles west
of Roxboro.

My father, S.T. Richmond, is 76 years old
and he has never held a public job. He has
farmed this land since he was 1 5 years old. He
raised wheat, corn, tobacco and beef cattle,
and reared six children on this farm.

All of the old buildings are gone. S.T. Rich-
mond tore down the old Richmond home in
1 952. He built a new home where the old one

stood. The old trees and old English Box-
woods are still standing. Also, the old hand
dug well is still being used today at his home.
There is still some old furniture in the Rich-
mond family that has come down from gener-
ation to generation.

This farm is approximately 240 acres, and
the owners and dates are as follows:

The farm was first owned by John Rich-
mond and we think John came into owner-
ship about 1 750; then John Richmond ( 1 726-
1 787); William Richmond ( 1 740- 1 832); John
Richmond (1775-?); Henry A. Richmond
(1815-1 908); James Tribue Richmond (1855-
1926); Lillie Bell Marcilliotte Richmond
(1874-1960) (wife of James Tribue Rich-
mond); and Spencer Tribue Richmond (the
present owner).

Spencer got this farm from his mother, Lil-
lie Bell M. Richmond, in 1934.

Spencer Tribue Richmond has six children
(two girls and four boys) and this farm has
been willed to his children. Henry Leon Rich-
mond, his son, is operating the farm now, just
as father had done.

Submitted by Henry Leon Richmond

THE SAUNDERS FARM

It has not been determined the year Wil-
liam (Billy) Hasten acquired the farm in the
southwest corner of Caswell County, some-
time in the late 1 700s or early 1 800s. Howev-
er, it is known Lucy Roberts Saunders, Has-
ten's niece, acquired the farm through family
members.

Lee Roy Saunders and Lucy Roberts
Saunders had two children, James Lee and
Betty. James Lee married Virginia Barker and
reared two sons, George Lee Saunders and
John Frank Saunders, and one daughter, Bet-
ty Saunders.

Lucy deeded the farm to her only living
child, James Lee Saunders. James Lee farmed
the land with the help of his three children
until he had a stroke and was not able to con-
tinue his farming operation.

A short time before his death, he divided
the farm equally between the three children.
His youngest son, John Frank, and wife,
Annie Gwynn Saunders, were deeded the
home tract. John Frank and Annie had one
son, Otis F. Saunders, who married Sarah
Ross.

The land was deeded to Otis and Sarah
when John Frank became disabled. Otis and
Sarah reared three children on the farm, Mark
Randall (1952-1967), Craig Nelson, and
Pamela Hope.

The two-story log cabin built by William
Hasten, the home of Lee Roy and Lucy, James
Lee and Virginia is still standing. John Frank
built a house on the farm in 1929, now occu-
pied by his wife, Annie. Otis and Sarah built
a house on the farm in 1954 where they now
reside.

Over the years, the Saunders family grew
tobacco, small grain and corn. Since Otis and
Sarah gained control of the farm, some of the
marginal land has been planted to trees. The
majority of the land is used for hay land and
permanent pasture to feed the herd of regis-
tered Red Poll cattle.

Submitted by Otis Saunders

Caswell — Catawba

THE TURNER FARM

This century farm has been passed down
several generations beginning in 1873 when
the 1 82 acre farm was owned by John Siddle.
It was about this time that the two-story farm
house was constructed and is still used as the
family residence. The farm was then passed to
John B. Siddle and later to Sallie A. Siddle. In
1910, 182 acres less ten were sold to her son,
John Will Siddle, who died at the age of 38
leaving a widow and one child, Mary Siddle.

The side view of William Turner's farmhouse.

In 1 927, Mary Siddle came into the inheri-
tance of a 265 acre tract left her by her father.
Tobacco was the cash crop produced on the
farm until the early 1 930s when Mary S. Tur-
ner and Julius began milking a small mixed
herd and sold Grade C milk.

Mary and Julius persevered, concentrating
on the dairy operation and by World War II
were producing Grade A milk. In 1952, the
century farm tract was inherited by Mary and
incorporated into the operation giving more
cropland to produce feed for the dairy. In
1962, William M. Turner returned to the
farm after graduating from N. C. State Uni-
versity and several years of teaching. The cen-
tury farm was then purchased from his moth-
er and the two families continued the dairy
operation increasing the herd.

In 1 977, after the death of his parents, Wil-
liam inherited the 265 acre tract and contin-
ued the dairy until 1980. An adjoining 105
acres were purchased in 1 979, making a total
of 542 acres in operation at the present time
producing tobacco and forage, grain, pasture
and hay for the Polled Hereford operation. It
is the desire of William that this land continue
to be farmed for centuries to come and be
known as the "Rolling Green Farms."

Submitted by William M. Turner

Catawba County

THE BAKER FARM

Joseph Rankin obtained a land grant by
the State of North Carolina in 1 794 and built
a house near a spring above swamp. Solomon
Baker, the third generation of Bakers in North
Carolina, bought this 725 acre farm on Jacob
Fork River in 1839 and built a two-story log
house. Solomon Baker died in 1863. His
father, John Baker, died in 1 823. His grandfa-
ther, Peter Baker, sold his farm in 1 804 and
moved the rest of the family to Missouri.
Pinkney Baker inherited one-fifth of the farm
and the homeplace. Norris Baker inherited
one-third of Pinkney's farm. Norris Baker left
the farm to his wife, Jettie Louella Yoder

Solomon and Anna Hoover Baker homeplace, built
in 1839. L to R: Pinkney Baker, Mary Elizabeth
Osborne Baker, Norris Ruffin Baker (on porch),
Walter Callahan and Claude Bernard Baker.

Baker, and before she died she sold the farm
to Louie D. and Alma Hilton Baker, her son
and daughter-in-law.

In 1978, Louie D. and Alma Hilton Baker
deeded the farm to their daughter, Martha
Louise Baker Frazier, of Winston-Salem and
with her sudden death January 2, 1 986, it was
willed to her husband, Kent W. Frazier. With
Kent's death, it has been willed back in the
Baker family in 1988.

The farm has a clay deposit that was used by
Jugtown potteries to make milk crocks, vine-
gar jugs, kraut jars, molasses jugs. In the twen-
ties and thirties the price of a one horse wagon
load of clay was 25 cents and two horse wagon
loads 50 cents, with you digging the clay. Mar-
tha Louise Baker Frazier sold 90 tons of clay
to the City of Statesville Recreation' Depart-
ment to host the worlds 1 979 horseshoe tour-
nament in Lakewood Park.

The farm contained level river and branch
bottoms that were rich and productive, and
also upland fields. When the river overflowed
its banks the backwaters always deposited
three or more inches of someone's topsoil up
the river.

There are 500 feet of field rock walls near
the granary and barns built by slaves. Also
built by slaves was a water system from the
spring to the stables and house. By moving
plugs, water would enter livestock troughs,
then to house by closing plugs. The fresh
spring water came through ten foot pine poles
coupled together with cuffs that holes had
been bored through the pole and buried in the
ground.

The log house had a chimney at each end
with fireplaces upstairs and downstairs, the
loom room upstairs. There was also a large
basement with vegetable bins and fruit racks
for storing apples, potatoes, pumpkins, and
turnips.

In the early 1 900s there were 1 7 large native
chestnut trees on the southeast slope of grave-
yard hill where we gathered chestnuts, by
quarts, gallons and pecks to a half a bushel
each morning during the harvest season.
Louie D. and Alma Baker have Louie's grand-
father and grandmother's wardrobe built out
of chestnut wood by his brother, Alfred Baker
as a wedding present in 1878. The chestnut
blight in the 1930s and 40s killed all of the
trees. During the last ten years we observed a
young tree about six inches around and 1 5 or
1 8 feet tall but now it has died.

A native spruce from Table Rock in Burke
County was set on the north side of the house

before the Civil War. It is now 1 7 feet in cir-
cumference and 100 feet tall.

Submitted by Louie D. and Alma Hilton Baker

THE DANNER FARM

In 1840, Alexander Danner purchased 150
acres on the Catawba Catfish Road in Cataw-
ba County one and one half miles northeast of
Catawba. Alexander Danner was born in
Alexander County 1815, the third son of Sam-
uel and Nancy Garner Danner. He married
Rachel Sherrill, Catawba County, 1 839. They
had 1 1 children: Monroe, Sarah, John, Hosea,
Martha, Harriet, Henry, Alice, Candice, Ida
and Lewis. Alexander built a two-story log
house on the farm 1882-1883, later adding
two rooms, weather-boarding and ceiling the
entire house.

Thomas and Cora Danner.

After Alexander's death in 1884, his wid-
ow, three daughters, and a son continued liv-
ing in the house. In 1 899, the son, Lewis mar-
ried Annie Hunsucker and built a home on
the original tract on Littles Ferry Road, once
the Stagecoach Road from Statesville to Lin-
colnton. This home was later remodeled and
is now occupied by a son, Thomas, Sr. Lewis
and Annie Danner had five children, one
daughter, Nellie Arndt, and four sons, Carl,
Fred, Thomas and Everette. Carl, Fred and
Everette are deceased.

Thomas W. married Cora Jones from Mt.
Holly in 1 940. They have three children: Bet-
ty Flatt, Thomas Jr. and Martha Smyre. Betty
and Martha are married and live in Charlotte.
Thomas Jr. is married and now lives in a new
home situated where the log house was built
by his great-grandfather.

After the death of the three unmarried
daughters, Thomas W. Sr. bought their shares
of the original 1 50 acres. The acreage owned
by Lewis F. and John, and was also later
acquired, resulting in Thomas Sr. owning all
of the original 1 50 acres.

I am now 82 and my wife and I expect to
transfer all of the original tract to our children
after our deaths. Submitted by T. W. Danner, Sr.

THE REINHARDT FARM

Our family farm began with Matthew Wil-
son (born December 18, 1717) in Ireland.
Matthew married Charity Smith on Novem-
ber 8, 1740, and they sailed for America in
June, 1745. After arriving in Pennsylvania,
they migrated to North Carolina in 1 752. On
October 3, 1755, Arthur Dobbs issued a Kings
Grant to Matthew Wilson #239 for 510 acres
of land in Anson County (which is now
Catawba County).

65

Catawba — Chatham

Aerial view of the Howard Reinhardt farm. 1930s.

Matthew and Charity had six children.
They acquired land until they had 2400 acres.
One of their sons, Andrew Wilson, fathered a
large family with one son being named Eze-
kiel. Ezkiel Wilson married Sarah Selina
McCorkle (1826-1885), daughter of Frances
McCorkle, Jr. (1786-1853) and Elizabeth
Abernathy McCorkle (1793-1877). Ezekiel
and Sarah's fourth child was Frances Anna
(1854-1 949). She married Joseph Edgar Rein-
hardt (1850-1926) on December 16, 1873, a
descendant of Pioneer Christian Reinhardt,
Sr. Frances Anna Wilson Reinhardt inherited
a parcel of land at the death of her parents.
Joseph and Anna had ten children, one of
whom was James Edgar Reinhardt (1885-
1953). He married Maude Anna Hahn on
October 11, 1911, daughter of Polycarp
Henkle Hahn and Martha Emma Hewitt.

As a wedding present, Joseph and Frances
Anna Reinhardt gave James Edgar and
Maude Anna Reinhardt 100 acres of land.
James Edgar and Maude Anna had two sons,
James Edward, Jr. (1919-1977) and Luke
(1914-1985). They inherited the 100 acres at
the death of their parents. James Edward
Reinhardt, Jr. married Claire Nell Beam on
December 23, 1933. She is the daughter of
Peter Calvin Beam (1882-1919), a descen-
dant of Pioneer Peter Beam and Ida Hettie
Shuford Beam. James Edward Reinhardt Jr.
bought his brother's share of the 1 00 acres and
over a period of time purchased an additional
100 adjacent acres. Twelve acres were sold in

1 974, because it was separated from the other
land by a highway. James Edward and Claire
Nell had four children. The youngest child,
Howard Beam Reinhardt (born November 8,

1947) , married Reba Kay Fox (born July 1 1,

1 948) , daughter of Woodrow Wilson Fox and
Toye Kathryn Hall Fox ( 1 922- 1 982), on July
26, 1 980. Howard and Reba have one daugh-
ter, Janet Kathryn (born March 4, 1983).
Howard was given 77.5 acres of this land in

1 975, and his mother, Claire Nell Beam Rein-
hardt, sold him 7.5 acres in 1977, and still
owns 103 acres of land.

Submitted by Howard Reinhardt

THE WILSON FARM

The farm we own, consisting of approxi-
mately 350 acres, was originally part of a land
grant of 2,040 acres received by our great-
great-great-grandfather, Matthew Wilson,
from King George II of England. This grant
was signed by Arthur Dobbs, Provincial Gov-
ernor of North Carolina, at New Bern on
October 5, 1755, and is recorded in the office
of the Secretary of State in Raleigh.

The house that Matthew and Charity Wilson built in
1787. Unfortunately it burned in 1967.

Matthew and his wife, Charity, had immi-
grated from Ireland in 1745 and arrived in
Catawba County (then Anson) around 1751,
settling near the South Fork river in what is
now Jacobs Fork Township. This area of
Catawba County is near Startown, southwest
of Newton, the county seat. Through the
intervening years since the grant was
received, portions of the land grant have been
sold by other descendants of Matthew Wilson
until our 350 acres are all that remain, having
never been out of the family. We inherited the
farm from our father, the late Judge Wilson
Warlick, and are the sixth generation to own
the land. It is interesting to note that the farm
has been located in five different counties
over the years — first Anson, then Mecklen-
burg, Tryon, Lincoln and in 1842, Catawba.

The original house which Matthew and
Charity Wilson built for their family in 1787

was located on the acreage we now own — on
a hill overlooking a clear, clean stream and
spring. Unfortunately, the house, three sto-
ries high and built of squared logs, assembled
with wooden pegs and with a large stone
chimney, later weather-boarded, burned on
November 14, 1967. The chimney had a fire-
place opening in each room, an interesting
architectural feature for a house built that ear-
ly. Since then there has been no residence on
the land.

This farm is located on a high plateau and
is quite beautiful. Approximately 247 acres
are in timber (the farm has been designated as
a tree farm) and 103 acres are in cultivation.
Through the years many crops have been
grown, including cotton, alfalfa, corn, wheat,
soybeans and hay for cattle. Some land is used
for pastureland for cattle. It has not been
farmed by family members since our great-
grandfather's day, but instead by tenant farm-
ers and sharecroppers, good stewards of the
land under family supervision. The farm is
currently being leased primarily for cattle
raising and hay production.

We are very proud to be the owners of such
a beautiful, historic and productive farm and
hope to continue to be good stewards of the
land. Submitted by Martha Warlick Brame and
Thomas Wilson Warlick

Chatham County

THE CLARK FARM

Family heritage and owning a century farm
hold important sentimental values to me and
my family. The farm is in Chatham County
and located in Hadley Township off of the
Silk Hope and W.R. Clark Road.

Part of the Clark family at the annual family
reunion — approximately 80 to 90 attend.

The 1 28 acre farm was deeded to my great-
grandfather, Thomas J. Clark on September
23, 1857. The buying of this land began the
family tradition which has continued to the
present time. In 1872, Henry Clark, my
grandfather, got the land from his father,
Thomas J. Clark. According to the records at
the Chatham County Courthouse, the 128
acres were not officially deeded to my grand-
father until 1 886. My father, Gurney Monroe
Clark was deeded the land in 1907. My wife
and I acquired the farm in 1957.

Grandpa Henry and his neighbors built the
first house which was made of oak logs with a
large rock chimney. There have been several
additions and improvements made through-

Chatham

out the years, but the original log room and
rock chimney are still a part of the house
today. I was born January 25, 1 9 1 9, in that log
room and I have never moved away from this
home.

Originally, the farm was used for growing
cotton, grain, tobacco, horses, hogs, sheep,
cows and chickens. There has always been a
large vegetable garden on the farm.

Due to the problem with the boll weevil, my
father decided in 1928 to also begin a dairy
operation. The dairy and farm operation was
carried on by the family. After my father's
death in 1941, I continued the dairy opera-
tion until 1972. Since that time, the farm has
been used for beef cattle and hay.

This farm — this house — a place to live —
all are full of sentimental value and family
memories. Submitted by Walter R. Clark

THE ELKINS FARM

In 1779, the Elkins came over from
England and settled in the Gulf and Bear
Creek Township. William Marley Elkins
inherited 486 acres from his father. He divid-
ed the land up in 1 906 between his three sons,
T.J. Elkins, J.R. Elkins and L.H. Elkins. One
hundred sixty-six acres went to T.J. Elkins,
then he bought 40 acres from L.H. Elkins,
making it 206 acres of land. In 1935, T.J.
Elkins passed away leaving it the T.J. Elkins
estate. In later years it was sold. T.J. Elkins'
son, Tommy, bought 25 acres more or less of
the Estate, and also owns 77 acres of the J.R.
Elkins Estate.

Tommy was born in the house in which he
is still living and owns. Tommy's father start-
ed building the house in 1904 and finished it
in 1908. He had a little store in the hallway of
the house from which he sold tobacco prod-
ucts, sugar, flour and general merchandise.

Submitted by Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Elkins

THE JORDAN FARM

Since at least 1847, six generations of Jor-
dans have been landowners and farmers in
Chatham County. William Jordan first pur-
chased land along Blood Run Creek west of
what is now Siler City. William and his son,
H. Harris, each purchased, traded, and/or
inherited tracts of land in the same area of the
county. H. Harris Jordan inherited two-fifths
of 350 acres in 1875; part of this tract of land
has been farmed since then by the Jordan
family.

The Elkins home, still standing on the property.

The Henry H. Jordan family.

During the last four generations, specializa-
tion began. H. Harris Jordan had several chil-
dren, but son, Henry H. Jordan purchased

additional farmland. In 1 900, a large tract of
land was divided and Henry H.'s share was
1 60 acres. This land is the Century Farm land.
In June, 1901, he purchased 9Vi acres along
Brush Creek, about a mile from the Century
Farm land. On this land he built a house, a
cotton gin and Brush Creek Bending Compa-
ny (furniture company). In 1905 Henry pur-
chased another 80 acres around Brush Creek.
In August, 1 907 he deeded 1 Vs acres of land to
Brush Creek Bending Company. The compa-
ny became public at this time. Prior to his
death in October 1911, Henry lost control of
the business due to ill health and everything
except the house had burned to the ground.
During this time the remaining land was used
by the family for general purpose farming to
support family members.

At the time of Henry H. Jordan's death, he
owned two tracts of land that totaled 240
acres. His son, Claude Womble Jordan, cared
for his mother and family while continuing to
run the farm. In the mid 1920s the Jordans
entered dairy farming. A neighbor in the com-
munity got enough people involved in dairy-
ing for a truck route to Greensboro. In 1942
the dairy farm became Grade A because of the
demand for fluid milk.

In 1952 Norman A. Jordan returned home
from N. C. State University and began dairy
farming a mixed herd of dairy cattle with his
father, Claude Jordan. In 1956, Norman pur-
chased his first Brown Swiss. Because of the
docile nature of the dairy breed and a desire to
be different, he began to develop a herd of reg-
istered Brown Swiss. By 1964 this goal was
achieved and he also purchased about 100
acres of land. Norman A. Jordan, Jr. graduat-
ed from N. C. State University in 1 978 and in
1979 became a partner in Brush Creek Swiss
Farms.

Plans are to continue in the dairy business.
The farm now includes 340 acres which is
actually three separate tracts of land. The
dairy itself is on the second tract purchased in
1905 along Brush Creek. The Century Farm
land along Blood Run Creek continues to be
farmed to produce forage for the dairy herd.
Unless something disastrous and unforseen
occurs, this land will continue to be farmed
into the next century.

Submitted by Norman A. Jordan

THE KIDD FARM

Since 1798, seven generations of Kidds
have owned and farmed lands in Chatham
County.

Edward William Kidd (January 10, 1843-June 21,
1918) and his wife, Francis Gilliand Kidd (born May
1, 1845), in front of their log house, built in 1853.

Moses Kidd, a Virginia Revolutionary War
veteran, was the first Kidd to settle in Chat-
ham County, with the purchase of 1 00 acres of
land in 1798 for 50 lbs. acquired from his
father-in-law, John Powers; 100 acres in 1801
for 50 lbs. from Henry Leonard; 100 acres in
1 802 from Susannah Powers on the waters of
Cedar Creek; 83 acres in 1 809 for 75 lbs. from
Robert Caviness and in 1812, a state land
grant of 35 acres on the waters of Flat Creek
from William Hawkins, Esquire, Governor,
Captain General and Command-in-Chief of
North Carolina. Other lands were acquired in
Randolph and Moore Counties.

Two sons of Moses Kidd, William and Lew-
is, were given/purchased lands in Chatham
County in 1 830- 1 840. These lands (less a few
tracts) were acquired by the son of William,
Reverend Edward "Ned" Kidd, who married
Francis Gilliland Kidd, widow of Aaron
Kidd, son of Lewis. They lived on these lands
near Bennett in a log cabin; still standing in
excellent condition, restored by Margaret
Kidd Maness.

This land was passed to the next genera-
tion, Dennis Kidd and others in 1909, until
the ownership went to the son of Dennis, Rev.
John Curtis Kidd, with inheritances/

67

purchases made in 1919, 1924, 1930, and
1934.

After John Kidd's death in 1977, the land
was inherited by his children: Louis (who had
earlier purchased Kidd land) — 160 acres;
Margaret — 16 acres; Cornie and Cordia —
26.5 acres; and Johnsie — 20 acres.

After passing down through six genera-
tions, the land now totals 222.5 acres. The
land is used for cattle, hog, chicken and hay
farming.

I have given 32 acres to my son and grand-
son with lifetime rights or estate, making
eight generations. Submitted by Louis C. Kidd

THE LUTTERLOH FARM

If Henry Lutterloh II, a German immi-
grant, had planted the right variety of mulber-
ry trees around 1 820, history might have been
different. As a young sailor, he learned how
the Chinese used silkworms and came to
America hoping to start a silk business. His
silkworms died, but this venture gave the area
in western Hadly Townshp in Chatham
County the name of Silk Hope.

Henry and his brother, Charles, bought
about 1600 acres of land south of Dry Creek
in what is now Northern Center Township in
Chatham County. Dr. I.A.H. Lutterloh, son
of Henry, inherited about 600 acres of this
original purchase which was divided among
his descendants. Columbus W. Lutterloh, one
of his sons, continued farmingon the 223 acre
tract he received. C. Lutterloh, son of Colum-
bus, purchased this land at his father's death.
He added 275 acres of adjoining land in 1915.
It was used as a cotton and tobacco farm.
Most of the farming land was cleared by hand
labor.

C.H. Lutterloh started a dairy in 1928. The
first registered Holstein calves were pur-
chased from Chinquapin Farms at Reidsville,
North Carolina in 1 940. When he began work
with the N. C. Department of Agriculture, his
wife, Fanny, and their son, Charles W. (Jack),
managed the dairy.

Roy J. Williams, husband of Elizabeth Lut-
terloh, became a partner in 1945. Charles S.
Lutterloh, son of Jack (C.W.) and Jill Lutter-
loh, joined the dairy operation in 1968 after
graduation from the Agricultural Institute at
North Carolina State University.

At present, the farmland is used for grain
and timber farming, beef, cattle and poultry.

The seventh generation of Lutterloh
descendants is planning to continue the farm-
ing operation at Route #2, Pittsboro, North
Carolina. Submitted by Charles W. Lutterloh

THE NORWOOD FARM

The historical trace of the Norwood prop-
erty is as follows: David Norwood to G.W.
Norwood (Book AR, page 528, February 16,
1874, 226 acres); G.W. Norwood to B.F.
Snipes (husband of Tabitha Norwood and
father of Leonora A.S. Norwood) (Book AZ,
page 45, May 15, 1879, 192 acres); B.F.
Snipes to Alpheus R. Norwood (wife Leonora
A.S. Norwood) (Book BP, page 553, Novem-
ber 5, 1885, 192 acres); Alpheus R. Norwood
to Leonora A. Norwood (Book DP, page 382,
February 1,1899,150 acres); Alpheus R. Nor-
wood to Grady P. Norwood (Book FW, page
272, April 28, 1920, 40 acres); Grady P. Nor-
wood to Lewis Norwood (Book ?, page 171,

Chatham

May 27, 1922, 40 acres); Grady P. and Lou
Pearl Norwood to Lewis and Margaret M.
Norwood (Book JH, page 158, October 5,
1944, 150 acres); to Margaret M. Norwood
(Will dated December 23, 1969, Chatham
County, NC, File 71-15-1522); Margaret M.
Norwood to Leonora Norwood Ingle (Book
403, page 29 1 , April 1 7, 1 977, 54.904 acres);
Margaret M. Norwood to L. Britton Norwood
(Book 403, page 29-, April 17, 1977, 70.73
acres); Margaret M. Norwood to Mary Nor-
wood Watson (Book 403, page 29-, April 17,
1977 54.904 acres). Leonora Norwood Ingle,
L. Britton Norwood and Mary Norwood Wat-
son are the present owners of the Norwood
Farm. Submitted by Leonora Norwood Ingle

THE NORWOOD FARM

My great- great- great- great- grandfather,
William Norwood, bought 1084 acres of land
in Chatham County in 1799. He moved at
that time, or soon thereafter, for the census
for 1800 shows him, his wife, three sons and
five daughters in Chatham. It is obvious that
this helped alleviate an acute shortage of mar-
riageable young women in the community,
for by 1805, all five were married, including
the one who was under 1 6 in the 1 800 census.

Sarah Snipes Norwood and her first born child, Ella.

In moving ahead a few decades, we find
that William Norwood, Jr. had three daugh-
ters who married sons of Thomas Snipes, and
a son who married Thomas' daughter. This
next generation must have given a new mean-
ing to the term "double first cousins."

In 1857, Sarah Snipes Norwood, my great-
grandmother, had her picture taken with her
first born child. This was a favorite subject
back then, just as it is now.

Around the turn of the century Claude T.
Norwood, my grandfather, used a fancy bug-
gy as his mode of transportation. He also
sported a heavy mustache that was common
for those times.

Part of the land that William Norwood, Sr.
bought in 1799 is now the Twin Lakes Golf
Course. That is to say, still serving communi-

ty needs, as in 1800.

Submitted by J. Lamont Norwood

THE O DANIEL FARM

Crops produced were cotton, corn, wheat,
oats, red clover and vegetables. The farm has
also had cows, hogs and chickens.

A barn and corn crib on the O'Daniel farm.

The only buildings left are the barn, corn
crib, and storage building.

At one time there was a cotton gin mill run
by waterpower to grind cornmeal.

Oliver Lamb was the first owner, then Tom
Lamb, W.J. O'Daniel and Alfred L. O'Daniel.

A log cabin was built first, then a two-story
four-room house, the front part which we now
have. Later, the log cabin was torn down and
four more rooms were built onto the front
part. Submitted by Alfred L. O'Daniel

THE SEARS FARM

My mother's grandfather bought 1 1 2 acres
from Sims Upchurch (1848), Book FY, page
298, to Ashwell Harward. From Ashwell Har-
ward to John B. Harward. From John B. Har-
ward to Floyd Harward Sears and Harmon C.
Sears.

From the estate of my mother at auction to
Gene F. Sears and Josephine B. Sears (1983)
Book 460, page 72.

After the War Between the States, this farm
has been a tobacco and pine tree farm. Money
from this farm sent ten of thirteen children
who grew up on this farm to college with two
going beyond the four year college.

Submitted by Gene F. Sears

THE VESTAL FARM

The settlement and development of the
Vestal farm land began when James Vestal, a
distant relation of the present owners, moved
his family around 1778 to the lands of Brush

The Vestal homestead.

68

I

Creek and built a small log cabin. As the fami-
ly grew, he moved further inland and built, in
1 789, the two-story, four-room log cabin that
forms the nucleus of today's larger structure.
During the rest of the 1700s, the time and
energy of the family was spent in clearing and
beginning to farm the tract of land which cov-
ered over 1000 acres.

In the early 1800s, James' daughter, Eliza-
beth, married a man named William Cavi-
ness and raised a family on the farm. In 1 844,
so that they could move to the western lands,
they let it be known that they wished to sell the
house and farm.

Around this time, Oliver Vestal, the forefa-
ther of the present day owners, was living in
Franklinville and was in charge of a nearby
country store.

When he heard that the Caviness' wanted
to sell the farm, he struck a bargain with them
and agreed to take possession of the house and
land the following summer with his new
bride, Elizabeth.

So in 1 845, Oliver and Elizabeth Pugh Ves-
tal moved into this house, and thus begins the
story of the Vestal century farm. During the
middle 1 800s, and after the Civil War, Oliver
and his sons added to the original house, and
further cleared and developed the land they
now possessed.

Such things as wheat, corn and hogs were
grown, but of special note, Oliver Vestal was
one of the first to introduce the growing of
tobacco to western Chatham County. Eliza-
beth Pugh Vestal also made a significant con-
tribution to the life of her family and to the
community as a whole. Under her leadership,
Moon's Chapel Baptist Church was formally
established in 1849 and was built one mile
north of the farm.

After Oliver's death in 1912, the land was
divided among his six sons and daughters.
All, except Edward, eventually sold their part
and moved away. However, Edward Vestal
kept the original homestead and 250 acres
and continued on farming with his sons. In
the late 1930s due to ill health, he delegated
the management of the farm to two of his
sons, Grady and St. Clair, who continued the
ownership of the farm after Edward's death in
1946. Tobacco growing was discontinued
during the 1930s, but in addition to an
increase in acreage of corn, wheat and soy-
beans, a small dairy was started and broiler
chickens were grown and sold.

During the 1940s, 50s, and 60s good land
conservation was started and maintained by
Grady Vestal, who, with his wife, Catherine,
and daughter Elizabeth, lived in the old Ves-
tal home. He improved the land by building
terraces, by rotating crops and later, by sod
planting corn. He was not afraid of using the
new hybrid seeds, new fertilizers and weed
controls on the land, and thus was rewarded
quite often with high yields.

After 1975, the original acreage has
decreased to 1 07 acres due to the ill health and
retirement of Grady Vestal and to the death of
his brother, St. Clair. Land once farmed by
the Vestals is now rented to other farmers of
the area.

But, the present owners of this land and
their heirs will try to insure that the century
farm principle of proper care and use of the
land will be constantly used, and hopefully,
the Vestal century farm should be able to exist

Chatham — Cherokee

far into the future.

Submitted by Catherine Vestal

THE WILSON FARM

In the 1800s, the Wilson farm was owned
by Andrew J. Wilson, who lived on this farm
and with tenants raised a variety of crops,
tobacco being the principal crop.

Andrew J. Wilson had three children and
after his death, the farm was divided between
these children, N.J. Wilson, Aaron Wilson
and Sarah Ann Wilson, who all built homes
and lived on the farm, with N.J. Wilson living
at the homeplace.

After the death of Aaron and Sarah Ann,
who had no children of their own, the farm
came back to N.J. Wilson.

N.J. and Mary L. Wilson had four children:
Leon J., Cecil C., A. Roscoe and Juanita C,
and after their deaths, the farm was divided
between these children.

Leon J. has since died without children and
his share of the farm was divided between
Cecil C. Wilson, Arthur Roscoe Wilson and
Juanita W. Clagg, as it now stands, except a
part of the property that the U.S. Corps of
Engineers purchased for Jordan Lake.

Submitted by A. R. Wilson

THE WOMBLE FARM

Crops produced were cotton, tobacco,
corn, wheat, oats, rye, silage crops, sweet
potatoes and a garden.

The Wombles in front of their home.

The farm buildings were a barn, granary
and smokehouse.

The farm has been called Blood Run Farm.
So named for the stream that runs through the
farm. The story goes that years ago a bloody
battle with Indians took place on the creek
and blood from the Indians and soldiers ran
into the creek giving the creek the name of
Blood Run Creek.

Our grandmother was born in 1 842 in this
home. The main house was a story and a half.
In 1 905 an addition of two stories was added
to the house.

Submitted by Miss Burdine Womble

THE WOMBLE FARM

The Womble farm was begun in 1847 as a
bequeathed gift to Irene Wilson Womble who
in turn bequeathed the 100 acres of land to
her daughter, Ada Womble Seagroves.

Ada and her husband, "Team" Seagroves,
started life on the farm in a log cabin he built.
This log cabin later became the tobacco pack
barn and grading room when a permanent

house was built. This couple had six children,
but two of them died in early childhood.

Of the remaining four children, Obelia Sea-
groves Womble was given the present home-
stead portion of the farm in 1938. It's interest-
ing that the farm was passed along through the
girls of the family who had supportive work-
ing husbands by their sides. More land was
acquired by Obelia's husband, Kadir Wom-
ble. This farm has been home for them, their
nine children (seven surviving), 20 grandchil-
dren, 1 5 (presently) great-grandchildren, and
assorted husbands and wives. As of Novem-
ber 5, 1 987, Kadir and Obelia have been mar-
ried for 65 years.

The family has raised tobacco, cotton, pea-
nuts, hogs, sheep, cows, goats, horses, mules
and other animals over the years besides
bountiful gardens.

The farm was mostly self-sufficient, espe-
cially in the early years, except for sugar.
Wheat was even ground for flour, cane grown
to be cooked into syrup and of course the
annual hog-killing supplied the meat along
with some beef. Once, Kadir tried to slaughter
a sheep, but the younger children who were
home "ran away" to the tenant house and he
changed his mind!

A big present day adventure is Christmas at
grandma's house with 50 or more people in
and around the house trying to find a place to
sit to eat.

This farm has seen its share of the triumphs
and tragedies which life has to offer, but it is
hoped it will continue for years to come.

Submitted by Mrs. Obelia S. Womble

Cherokee County

THE BRITTAIN FARM

Known throughout Cherokee County, the
Brittain farm in the Peachtree community
has been handed down from generation to
generation for over 100 years.

W.P. Brittain store and homeplace.

The original log homeplace was built in the
early 1800s, supposedly by an Indian Chief,
and was later known as the George or Wright
farm.

In the late 1 800s, part of the farm was inher-
ited by Caroline Eleanor George and part was
purchased by her husband, William P. Brit-
tain, who built and operated a general store on
the farm from 1 884 until 1938. This is how it
came to be called "the Brittain farm."

Nestled in the heartland of Cherokee Coun-
ty, the farm consists of approximately 250
acres, more or less, and spreads across rolling
hills and fertile pastures.

69

Part of the land is still cultivated for crops
of corn and soybeans. Paul Ledford, a direct
descendant of William P. Brittain, plans to
continue to farm the land for future genera-
tions and to preserve the heritage of his fami-
ly. Submitted by Paul A. Ledford

THE BRITTAIN FARM

At the death of Verdie Brittain Ledford,
her daughter, Catherine, inherited the home-
place and her share of the farm. At Cather-
ine's death, her son, Jerry T. Sudderth, inher-
ited her entire estate, being her sole heir.

Jerry T. Sudderth.

Jerry lives on the homeplace and he is farm-
ing the land now just as his grandmother and
her father and his father before him had done
for well over 100 years.

Submitted by Jerry T. Sudderth

THE STEWART FARM

James Stewart of Caldwell County came to
the newly formed county of Cherokee in the
year of 1839 and bought tracts of land for
which he received state grants. He continued
to buy more land until he had several hundred
acres.

L to R: John H., Edmond (Jack), Elvira (Kate) and
Hugh Samuel Stewart, sons ana daughters of James
ana Harriett Stewart.

Cherokee — Chowan

James Stewart married Harriett K. Scott of
Burke County in 1843, and they lived on the
Stewart farm on the Yadkin River. They
moved from there to Cherokee County in
1 846. At this time the county was in a state of
wilderness. They settled on a tract of land,
north of the present town of Andrews, in cab-
ins which had recently been vacated by the
Indians. In 1 847, James Stewart built a house,
said to be the first "framed" house in Chero-
kee County. It was put together with pegs.

James Stewart did general farming, such as
corn, wheat, rye and potatoes. He also stocked
the farm with cattle, sheep, mules, chickens
and turkeys.

Stewart tried growing flax, but the climate
was not suited, so he gave up the idea of grow-
ing this crop.

On one part of the farm he established a
tannery. It was very primitive compared to
modern plants, but it was the first industry in
Cherokee County. The tannery closed during
the Civil War and never opened again.

James Stewart died in 1863, but his wife
continued to operate the farm with the help of
her children.

At the death of Harriett Stewart in 1895,
her oldest son, John H. Stewart, bought all the
farm from the other heirs. He later sold the
entire farm to his younger brother, Hugh
Samuel Stewart.

Hugh Samuel continued growing corn, rye,
wheat and potatoes. He was very successful
because he learned to rotate the crops. He also
started a large orchard of York apples. He
continued to raise cattle, sheep and horses. A
huge lot was fenced in for geese. He raised
them for feathers and food.

At the death of Hugh Samuel the farm was
divided among his children. His youngest
daughter, Annie Stewart McGuire, still lives
at the old homeplace in a house built in 1 9 1 2.
Most of her land is now in pasture.

Submitted by Annie Stewart McGuire

THE SUDDERTH FARM

William Sudderth II, born about 1730,
moved with his family from Albemarle Coun-
ty, Virginia some time prior to 1779, to Burke
(now Caldwell) County, where he purchased
land from Joseph Stapp of Burke (now Cald-
well) County on Blair's Creek June 10, 1779,

thus becoming the founder of the western
North Carolina Sudderths.

Many different forms of the spelling of the
name exist. In Virginia, the most usual are
Suddarth, Sudduth, Southeard and Sudderth.
In Cherokee County, the name is spelled Sud-
derth.

Sometime before 1850, Abraham Sud-
derth, Jr., son of Abraham, Sr. and grandson
of William Sudderth II, purchased the Mis-
sion Farm in Cherokee County. He moved
here with his family around 1854-1855. He
had a large number of slaves who worked the
plantation during the following years and
duration of the Civil War.

The Mission Farm took its name from an
Indian Mission School established on the
land lying along Hiawassee River and taught
by Evans Jones and Humphrey Posey around
1820, before the removal of the Cherokee
Indians.

After the death of Abraham Sudderth II, in
1 867, a large portion of the 1 800 acres of land
purchases by him were sold. The remainder
was bought by his only son, David Theodore,
and wife, Delia Corpening Sudderth. This
was divided among their heirs: five sons and
four daughters, several of whose descendants
still live on and cultivate the fertile soil lying
along Hiawassee River.

The farm is now being used for growing
beef cattle. The owners of this farm are: Neil
Sudderth, Ralph Sudderth, Aud Sudderth,
Mae Sudderth, Dale Sudderth and Meb Sud-
derth Hendrix. We are the fourth generation
of Cherokee County Sudderths. We are heirs
of Henry Sumpter and wife, Emma Puett Sud-
derth . Submitted by Meb Sudderth Hendrix

Chowan County

THE GREENFIELD FARM

One of the early grants along the sound was
made to George Fordice, January 1 , 1 694. In
October, 1750, Levi Creecy married Mrs.
Mary Charlton Haughton, the young widow
of Richard Haughton, who had died two years
earlier. With the lady, Creecy acquired her
interest in Richard Haughton's plantation,
and he eventually bought the interest of her
Haughton children after they were old enough
to convey property. His descendants, in vari-

The David Theodore Sudderth reunion on the Mission Farm in 1908. He is sitting with his wife, Delia Cor-
pening Sudderth. The one with the cane and beard is David Theodore.

Chowan

Lemuel Creecy named the Fordice's farm "Green-
field-.

ous branches of his family, have owned the
place ever since.

At his death in 1772, "Fordice's" was
inherited by his youngest son, Job Creecy,
then a small boy. Job was still a minor when
he died in 1782, and by the terms of his
father's will, his inheritance was divided
among his surviving brothers and sisters. One
of the older brothers, Lemuel, immediately
bought the interests of William and Nathan
Creecy and of their cousin, John Skinner, of
Perquimans County, the husband of their sis-
ter, Mary, who died shortly before Job. He
bought the interest of his youngest sister, Eliz-
abeth, shortly after her marriage to Charles
Moore of Perquimans. It was Lemuel Creecy
who named the farm Greenfield.

Lemuel Creecy willed Greenfield to his son,
Lemuel Jr. or, if he should die childless, to a
little grandson, Christopher Gale Creecy,
child of the younger Lemuel's brother, Joshua
Skinner Creecy. Apparently Lemuel Sr. did
not know that Lemuel Jr. and his wife were
expecting a child and that young Lemuel had
just made his own will to provide for his wife
and baby. The two wills were proved at March
Term, 1816, Lemuel Jr. having died very sud-
denly before his father; his child seems to
have died at birth.

Christopher Gale Creecy died young,
unmarried, and his brother and sisters inher-
ited Greenfield. In 1 837 the brother, Richard
Benbury Creecy, bought out his two sisters,
who had married and moved away. He moved
away himself in 1 843 to Elizabeth City, North
Carolina, where for awhile he farmed and lat-
er, for 40 years almost, edited the "Elizabeth
City Economist". He had long since sold
Greenfield to Edward Wood, another great-
grandson of Levi Creecy.

When Edward Wood moved to Greenfield,
he was a county commissioner. He ran two of
the largest fisheries on the sound, one of them
at Greenfield, and was a conspicuously suc-
cessful farmer with eventually the largest
acreage in the county. Greenfield was the first
of four farms that he bought in 1851. By the
end of 1 858 he had bought an additional five
farms. In 1863 he bought Athol, and in 1865
he inherited Mulberry Hill.

Seven years after Wood's death in 1 872, all
of his property except Hayes was valued and
divided equally among the six children who
did not share in Hayes; Greenfield fell to the
youngest, Henry Gilliam Wood. In 1891
Wood sold Greenfield to his elder brother.

Frank Wood left Greenfield to George C.
Wood, his only surviving son.

George C. Wood willed Greenfield to Fan
Lamb Haughton Wood, his second wife, who
in turn willed the farm to his son George C.
Wood, Jr. and their son, Thomas Benbury
Haughton Wood.

The present owners of Greenfield are Mr.
and Mrs. T.B.H. Wood. Elizabeth V. Moore
aided in the research for this history.

Submitted by Virginia Wood

THE HOLLOWELL FARM

Four generations of the Hollowell descen-
dants have resided on this farm beginning
with William Hollowell who made the origi-
nal purchase in 1847. The land was divided
between Luke and David Hollowell in 1902,
later transferred to Ira Hollowell Eure and
then to her sons, C.H. Eure and L.M. Eure, in
1984.

The Hollowell family has resided on this farm for
four generations.

In the beginning years, the farm was a self-
sufficient unit providing in large part the
necessities of farm life. There was a cane mill
to turn farm grown cane into molasses. Corn
raised on the land was ground into meal at a
local family owned mill. Poultry provided
food, feathers for household items and eggs
for barter. In addition, there were fruit trees,
grape vines, fig bushes, potatoes, corn, pea-
nuts, cotton and various livestock.

This farm which has increased over the
years, now consists of 222 acres located at
Selwyn in northeastern North Carolina. The
land has been in continuous cultivation (by
family members until 1970) and the main
crops today are corn, soybeans, cotton and
peanuts.

The original farmhouse, a two-story frame
structure, was removed in 1 975, but there is a
portion of this building still located on the
farm and Hollowell family members still
reside on the farm. Submitted by Ira H. Eure

THE JONES FARM

Prior to 1 776, Hezekiah Jones came to this
country from Wales. The following year he
purchased 100 acres of land for 100 pounds.
The farm is located 1.5 miles east of the Cho-
wan River, and 10 miles north of Edenton to
the Rocky Hock Community.

Jones farmed the land, and practiced the
craft of cooper. In 1 784, his son Cullen was
born. There have been six generations of
Jones' who have owned ancblived on this land.
The heads of the families have been Hezeki-

The Herbert B. Jones family, 1 936 — L to R: Gordon
Huffines, Gordon Huffines, Jr., Helen Jones Huf-
fines, Otis C. Stone, Sally Jones Stone, Herbert B.
Jones, Lilly Evans Jones, William P. Jones, and
Ernestine Jones.

ah, Cullen, Josiah, William P., Herbert B. and
the present owner, William P. II.

They were all born and lived in the house
that is still standing. It is thought that the
house was probably built of logs in the begin-
ning. The east side of the house has small logs,
which are plastered on the inside and weather
boarded on the outside. It now has seven
rooms and a bath, and six fireplaces. Prior to
1918, the kitchen was located perpendicular
to the main house. That was torn down at that
time and an "ell" was added.

The acreage has varied from generation to
generation from the original 100 to 300 plus
which was owned by William P. the first. The
present owner has 175 acres.

In the late 1800s the house was the Rocky
Hock Post Office. There were 24 pigeon holes
in the front hall. The mail came to Rocky
Hock Wharf by steamboat. The boat line ran
from Edenton on the south to Franklin, Vir-
ginia on the north. Sarah Trotman Jones, the
wife of the first William P., was the post mis-
tress. She placed the mail in the boxes and left
the front door open, and the people in the area
came by and picked up their mail.

Submitted by William P. Jones

THE WARD FARM

According to an excerpt from an old deed
record, Timothy Ward purchased a tract of
land "130 acres more or less" for $800 on
December 12, 1859. This tract, we believe, is
the farm now known as the "A.J. Ward
Homeplace on the Gliden Road" — in a small
rural community located on Highway 37 at
the north end of Chowan County, bordering
on Warwick Swamp which separates Chowan
and Gates Counties. In a will dated December
12, 1877, Timothy left to his son, Anderson J.
Ward, "The home tract of land where I now

The Ward farm sometime after 1973.

71

Chowan — Clay — Cleveland

live" — . This property became A.J.'s and his
wife, Sarah's, at Timothy's death on June 1 5,
1879.

A.J. enlisted in the Confederate Army on
March 1, 1862. He was promoted to 3rd Sgt.
CO. C, 52nd Regiment of the N.C. Infantry
on December 10, 1862. He was reported as
missing in action at the Battle of Gettysburg
on July 3, 1863, and remained a prisoner of
war until May 4, 1 865.

A.J. and Sarah raised six sons and a daugh-
ter born between 1873 and 1890. Anderson
D. Ward, their youngest son, and his wife,
Minnie, were left the home farm at A.J.'s
death on June 15, 1913. They continued to
farm the land and operate a family owned dry
goods store in the Gliden community. A.D.
and Minnie raised two daughters and a son
born between 1913 and 1920. The farm was
deeded to Minnie in 1920. A.D., Sr. died on
August 17, 1940. At Minnie's death on
November 1, 1962, the farm was left to their
children. In 1969, A.D., Jr. and his wife,
Sybil, bought out the shares of his sisters and
in 1 972 they deeded the house and surround-
ing lot to their only child, Kaye Ward Bunch,
and her husband. They remodeled the house
and moved into it Thanksgiving 1973. A.D.,
Jr. died June 6, 1983. The farmland still
belongs to Sybil. The land was farmed by the
family until the early 1970s when it became
impossible for a "small farmer" to make a liv-
ing just farming. Corn, soybeans and peanuts
were the basic crops raised here. The farm
land is now rented out yearly to another far-
mer in the area.

Submitted by Mrs. A.D. Ward, Jr.

THE WEBB FARM

The record is not clear as to when the Webb
family first became farmers and landowners
in Chowan County. It is known that John B.
Webb (born 1816) was active in the central
county community of Rocky Hock through
the early and mid- 1 800's. His son, William J.
Webb (born 1 842), moved to the south county
community of Yeopim in 1871, and pur-
chased a 480 acre farm. Known as "Elm
Grove," the property is situated on Burnt Mill
and Middleton Creeks; the confluence of
which mark the headwaters of the Yeopim
River.

In the late 1 800s and early 1 900s, neighbor-
hood farmers received fertilizer and related
farm materials by way of barge traffic on
Burnt Mill Creek. A warehouse still stands
today at a landing where these supplies were
loaded on wagons and the team watered at the
farm well before completing the journey.

The dwelling on the farm at the time of its
purchase was replaced in the late 1 800s by the
structure which today is home to the fourth
generation of Webbs. Many outbuildings
have been lost over the years, including the
farm's store; the upper story of which served
as an office where W.J. Webb discharged his
duties as Justice of the Peace.

With the exception of tobacco, the crops
planted today (corn, cotton, peanuts and soy-
beans) are much the same as in the 1 800s.

This property should remain a family farm
for the foreseeable future and it is hoped that
the tradition will continue.

Submitted by J. A. Webb, III

Webb farm, Chowan County.

Clay County

THE BRISTOL FARM

This Bristol Century Farm is located in
Clay County and consists of 300 acres. This
land was purchased from the state of North
Carolina by George W. Bristol on March 14,
1857. (The present owner has the original
document in his possession.) This land
remained the property of George W. Bristol
until October 14, 1877, wherein the land was
transferred by deed to Thomas Benedict Bris-
tol, a son of George W. Bristol. The land
remained the property of Thomas Benedict
Bristol until September 29, 1 904, wherein the
property became the property of Samuel
Johnson Bristol, a son of Thomas Benedict
Bristol.

I
H

L to R: Debra Bristol Puckett, daughter of Richard
Bristol, Bristol, and granddaughter, LeCosta Juli-
an n Woody.

Samuel Bristol farmed the land and was
very successful at it. He grew grain and hay.
He had sheep, horses, cattle and hogs. He was
also an owner of a sawmill. Samuel Bristol
died in 1948.

Richard Evans Bristol, youngest child of
Samuel Bristol, was 17 years old and was a
senior in high school. After graduation, Rich-
ard chose to live with his mother and care for
her and the farm instead of college. He has no
regrets of his choice even though times were
not always good for young Richard. However,
with his hard work, good management and
determination, he succeeded and is well
known as a very prominent farmer in Clay
County. At the time of his mother's death in

December, 1965, Richard became the owner
of the "Bristol Farm."

Richard grows corn, burley tobacco, and
trellised tomatoes. He and his wife, Joann,
work as partners and live on the farm. They
were chosen as the Clay County Farm Family
of the year in June, 1 98 7. They have a daugh-
ter, Debbie Puckett, and a granddaughter,
Juliann Woody. Submitted by Richard E. Bristol

Cleveland County

THE HARRELSON FARM

Asbury Carr Harrelson's grandfather,
Adam Beam (1813-1863) and grandmother,
Violet Whitworth Beam (1823-1925) bought
163 acres of land known as the Tate place
around 1843, two miles north of Waco in
Cleveland County.

L to R: Grandmother Violet Whitworth Beam,
Boyd, Sallie Keziah Salinas Beam, Marie, Asbury,
Miles Pinkney Harrelson and Alger.

Their youngest daughter Sallie Keziah Sali-
nas Beam (1863-1950) married Miles
Pinkney Harrelson (1866-1963) in 1890.
They bought the farm and grandmother Vio-
let made her home with them until her death
in 1 925 at the age of 1 1 . Grandfather Adam
had died at age 50 of tuberculosis a couple of
months before Sallie's birth.

Miles and Sallie began housekeeping on
their land in the four room mud daubed log
house in which she was born. The interior had
ten inch paneling with slats over the joints. A
large kitchen approximately 20 x 30 feet stood
separate from the house. Here meals were pre-
pared and eaten, looms for weaving material
for family clothes were kept and quilting and
sewing were done. This house became a ten-

72

ant house when a big house was built about
500 feet away in 1 906. The big house became
a rented house after their death and it burned
in 1969.

Asbury, being hale and hearty at 94, and his
son, Dr. Lewis G. Harrelson, who has bought
a part of the land, live on it now.

Submitted by Betty H. Helton

Columbus County

THE BLAKE FARM

The Century Farm of John Milton Mills
Blake and his wife, Eugenia Quinn Blake, is
part of the land purchased by Mr. Blake's
ancestor, John Beatty Blake, whose father,
Francis Blake, came to America from Ireland
before 1800.

Francis Blake was a school teacher in Wil-
mington and came to Chadbourn as an "entry
taker" writing grants for new lands. Francis
Blake purchased 1 75 acres south of Whitevil-
le in 1814, then in 1877 his grandson, John
Beatty, and his wife, Dorcas Sessions Blake,
purchased the large tract of land in Chad-
bourn. They planted the second crop of straw-
berries to be grown in Chadbourn, the home
of the North Carolina Strawberry Festival.
Sons of John Beatty and Dorcas were Rich-
ard, Robert, Franklin and John Beatty, Jr.
"Bandy." They were large strawberry produc-
ers.

Joseph Franklin graduated from Davidson
College Medical School in 1905. Dr. Joseph
Franklin Blake, M.D. continued to practice
medicine until his death in 1 949. He was one
of the last horse and buggy doctors. He mar-
ried Eva McDonald and their children were
Joseph F. Blake, Jr., who became a college
professor, Margaret and John Milton Mills
Blake.

At Mrs. Blake's death in 1 954, Milton, who
had operated the farm for his parents since
returning from duty with the Navy's 107th
Seabee Battalion in World War II, purchased
the farm shares inherited by his brother and
began raising Hereford beef cattle. Milton
expanded into the field of farm drainage with
heavy equipment while continuing the farm-
ing of tobacco, corn and small grain. Milton
and Eugenia Quinn had two sons, John Mil-
ton Blake, Jr. and Frank Quinn Blake.
Eugenia had been reared on a farm in Duplin
County and although she completed a Ph.D.
at UNC Chapel Hill, she agreed with Milton
they should remain on the farm. Both sons
graduated from UNC Chapel Hill, and the
older son returned to the county to teach and
to live on his part of the farm. He helped to
tend the Hackney horse breeding operation
Milton developed out of his interest in driv-
ing horses. John and his wife, Kathy, have two
daughters; Frank and his wife, Cathy, have an
infant son. Milton and Eugenia are still oper-
ating the farm and with grandchildren now in
the picture, it seems reasonable to assume
descendants of Francis Blake will be farming
here into the next century.

Submitted by Eugenia Blake

THE BLAKE FARM

John Beatty Blake married Dorcas Ses-
sions March 20, 1870, his first wife having
died the previous year.

Cleveland — Columbus

On March 8, 1877, Dorcas Session Blake
purchased, reportedly with her inheritance, a
tract of land northwest of Chadbourn known
as the Turbeville land. She and her husband
spent the rest of their lives on this land.

James Robert Blake, Sr., a son and success-
ful merchant inherited a part of this land on
December 11, 1916. Soon afterwards straw-
berries became the best "cash" crop. J.R.
"Bob" Blake was one of just a few farmers
who shipped a refrigerated railroad car each
day. The strawberry was the "King Crop" of
the area. Tobacco was soon to come into its
own. Mr. Blake lived on this farm until his
death in 1 968 at the age of 94.

Two-thirds of this farm was acquired by
purchase and inheritance by Keith and Elaine
Blake who have their home on the farm and
reared two children, Lisa and William. The
land is leased to their son-in-law and daugh-
ter, Scott and Lisa Hooks, who also live on
this farm with their children, Erin and Kyle.
The land now grows tobacco, corn and soy-
beans.

With the love that these descendants dis-
play for this land, hopefully it will stay in the
ownership of a descendant of Dorcas Sessions
Blake, a lady who invested her inheritance
wisely. Submitted by Keith Blake

THE BLAKE FARM

Francis Blake came to America from Ire-
land in about the year 1800 to be a school
teacher in Wilmington. He married several
years later and moved to Columbus County as
an "entry taker," writing grants to new lands.
In 1814, he purchased 175 acres in what is
known as South Whiteville and started farm-
ing.

In 1877, his grandson, John Beatty Blake,
and his wife, Dorcas Sessions Blake, pur-
chased a large tract of land in Chadbourn. On
this land their sons planted the second crop of
strawberries to be grown in Chadbourn.
These sons were Richard, Bob, Frank and
Bandy. A daughter, Maggie, also participated
in the farming. They were said to be one of the
largest strawberry producers in Chadbourn.
During this time, brother Frank went to medi-
cal school and graduated in 1 905 from David-
son College Medical School.

Bandy continued farming strawberries,
tobacco, and cotton. After his death in 1942,
his younger son, Billy, at the age of 16, took
over the farming and care of his mother and
sister, Thelma; his older son, Jack was fight-
ing in World War II. After Jack returned, the
brothers expanded the operation to include
dairy farming with a small herd of Holsteins.

As a result of an expanding dairy business,
crop production included corn, millet and
other small grains to be used as silage, making
the dairy nearly 100% self sufficient.

Dairying continued to be their main farm-
ing concern until 1987, after 40 years in the
business, a serious farming accident made it
necessary for the brothers to dissolve their
dairy herd.

We believe this Century Farm land will be
in useful production for many years to come.
We will continue to grow tobacco and corn
and have hopes for our farming descendants.

Submitted by Thelma Blake

THE CUMBEE FARM

This land has been in the Gladys McLean
Cumbee family since December 18, 1794. In
the Robeson County Courthouse, we found
this document in Book F, p. 143, dated
December 18, 1794. John McLean, Sr. of the
state of North Carolina was granted 200 acres
of land near Ashpole Swamp, and about three
miles from Rowland, by Richard Dobbs
Speight, Governor of North Carolina signed
in New Bern.

This home was built in 1882 by Neill Thompson
McLean of Rowland, North Carolina.

On February 5, 1 802, John McLean deeded
to Archibald McLean the same estate of 200
acres.

On July 1 7, 1 845, Archibald McLean deed-
ed to Washington A. McLean the 200 acre
estate.

Washington A. McLean deeded the same
200 acres of land to Neill Thompson McLean
who was my grandfather.

Neill Thompson McLean deeded my broth-
er 22 acres of the 200 acre estate. My brother,
Archie Neil McLean, deeded the 22 acres of
land to me, Gladys McLean Cumbee, before
he died in 1973.

This land has been in the family lacking five
years for 200 years.

Submitted by Gladys McLean Cumbee

THE ROYAL BLUE HEATHER
FARM

In 1 784, 350 acres of meadowland just east
of Great Green Swamp were granted to Jacob
Webb by North Carolina Governor Alexan-
der Martin. In 1833, Abslom Ward bought
the two tracts for $350.

Ward cleared about one tenth of the highest
self-drained land. Five years later he sold the
whole acreage to Ann Kerr Blue, widow of
John Blue; and she moved here from Blue-
field in Bladen County. Mrs. Blue's family
was a son, Dougald, 25 years old, and three
younger maiden daughters.

The family began growing corn, cotton,
sweet potatoes and many kinds of vegetables
and herbs. They also grew flax. The ladies
soaked, carded, spun and wove the flax into
linen cloth which they dyed many colors using
indigo, sage, barks and other plants grown at
home. Because of religious scruples, the fami-
ly never owned slaves.

The plantation produced cattle, sheep,
hogs, chickens, turkeys, guinea-fowl and
geese. After a few years, apples, apricots,
peaches, pears, figs, grapes and pomegranates
were harvested. Black walnuts and chestnuts

73

Columbus

could be had for the gathering. Oak timber
was abundant, and pine produced, pitch, tar
and turpentine for money crops. Food was
plentiful and life was sweet. No hungry man
or beast was ever turned away from Blue's
gate unfed.

In 1849. for the sum of $1.00, Ann Blue
granted a monopoly to the Wilmington and
Manchester Railroad Company to cross one
mile of her property. This coming of the rail-
road was a boon to the community.

The one grief was the destruction of the ani-
mals by bobcats and black bears. It was not
easy to go to sleep some nights due to the bel-
lowing of the cows or squealing of a hog as a
wild beast dragged them to the deep of the
swamp for the kill!

In 1865, Dougald Blue married Elizabeth
Sessions. Two years later he built a hand-
hewn, heart pine plank dwelling near his
mother's log home. This house has never
ceased to be a residence. For the last eleven
years, since the death of his last daughter, it
has been occupied by distant relatives of the
present owner, Dougald's granddaughter, Lil-
lian Peterson.

In this house Dougald and Elizabeth's eight
daughters grew up. Dougald died when the
oldest of these was 2 1 and the youngest under
two. However, Elizabeth being a frugal,
industrious woman, and teaching her daugh-
ters to be the same, reared and educated them.
Five were school teachers, one a United States
Postmaster, and two sweet little spinsters, Ida
and Rowena, kept the home fires burning for
their career sisters Lilla, Dora. Martha, Viola,
Stella and Leta.

After several years of teaching, Leta mar-
ried. Her one son and two daughters were
born and reared in the house her father built.
Her older daughter established her home,
which is called Blue Echos, on the same tract
of land, and there reared three daughters. The
oldest is now a business woman and home-
maker; the second a Doctor of Psychology in
private practice. The youngest one, is a corpo-
rate secretary and a homemaker, living adja-
cent to her parents on Blue Estate. She has
reared one daughter, who makes the sixth
generation of descendants who have loved,
lived on, and preserved the land which Ann
Blue, being a proud Scotch — who spoke flu-
ent Gaelic, named Royal Blue Heather.

Submitted by Mrs. J.D. Peterson

THE WOOLARD FARM

John Laurence Woolard and his wife,
Mary Day Woolard, are the present owners
and operators of the Woolard Farm. The farm
is located one mile south of US 74-76 on the
Byrdville Cheerful Hope Baptist Church

A 1927 Dodge sedan in front of the house Jordan
Woolard built in the late 1840s, photo taken in the
early 1930s.

Road, in Columbus County, Ransom Town-
ship, the village of Byrdville. Cheerful Hope
Baptist Church was founded in 1839 and
John and his wife, Mary Day, are members
and attend regularly.

John Laurence Woolard was born October
22, 1912, the 10th of 1 1 children of Jordan
Marion Woolard (born February 13, 1864)
and Ida Foster Jenkins Woolard (born Octo-
ber 21, 1874), who owned the farm prior to
John Laurence.

Jordan Marion Woolard was born at Byrd-
ville on the farm, and was the 7th child of 10
children of Jordan Woolard (born January 7,
1819! and Caroline Smith Woolard (born
November 4, 1829).

Jordan Woolard, John Laurence Woolard's
grandfather, was born in Beaufort County
and was the 4th of 1 6 children of Simon Woo-
lard (born in 1785) and Winniford Woolard
(born in 1 795) Beaufort County.

Jordan Woolard crime to the Byrdville area
from Beaufort County around 1846, settled
there and married Caroline Smith. He bought
some land and she inherited land adjoining it
from her parents, James Huey Smith and
Betsy Rowell Smith. He farmed the land, grew
cotton, tobacco, potatoes, cattle, hogs, and
worked turpentine, rosin and timber for vari-
ous commercial uses.

John Laurence Woolard's parents and
grandparents are buried in the Woolard cem-
etery on this farm.

John Laurence Woolard, Jr. (born June 21,
1945), who lives in Alpharetta, Georgia, will
follow in ownership of the Woolard Farm.

Submitted by John Laurence Woolard

THE WORLEY FARM

Beginning with an indenture dated the
27th day of July, in the year of our Lord, 1 791,
Nicholas Worley and six subsequent Worley
generations have owned and operated the
family farm in the southeastern section of
Columbus County, adjacent to the South Car-
olina-North Carolina State line. Nicholas
Worley originally purchased 100 acres of
land. Despite the divisions in subsequent gen-
erations, the farm has a present acreage of
approximately six hundred through the
efforts of A.J. Worley. Despite the societal
changes in the 1960s, the Worley farm has
continued to grow and the "old homeplace"
serves as the hub of operations for approxi-
mately 1000 additional acres of timber and
cropland, which is currently tended by A.J.
Worley and three of his sons, Alfred James
Worley, Jr., Chandler French Worley and
Robert Worley. Consistent with the agrarian
changes, the Worley family, together with the

The Worley homeplace, built circa 1895.

help of seasonal labor, cultivates the land
upon which approximately twenty-seven
families cultivated in the early 1960s.

It is reported that the house was construct-
ed in 1 895, for the sum of $ 1 50. The home-
place is located approximately 5'/2 miles east
of Fair Bluff on Highway 904. It is also report-
ed that some of the first flue-cured tobacco
was grown near the old homeplace. Initially,
the Worley's "turpentined" the longleaf pine
of which only a handful of the "turpentined"
pines remain standing. Through the years,
tobacco, corn, soybeans, sweet potatoes,
small grain, swine and cattle have been the
primary income producing products. Recent-
ly rice was planted in a catfish pond, which
has been converted to a crawfish pond. The
Worley brothers are exploring the possibility
of expanding the crawfish production.

Through the years, the Worley's have
served in the Revolutionary War, Civil War,
Spanish-American War, World War II, and
the Vietnam War; obviously for the purpose
of defending the old homeplace. Throughout
the years, farming has been instilled in the
Nicholas Worley descendants, thus creating
the impetus for future generations of family
farmers who will adjust and prepare for
tomorrow. Submitted by Dennis T. Worley

THE WRIGHT FARM

The Flat Bay Farm, now owned by Ottis
Richard Wright and wife, Olive Battle
Wright, was included with lands purchased by
Issac Wright I, when he purchased property in
that portion of Columbus County, then in
Bladen and Brunswick Counties, just after
1800. By a document recorded in the Bladen
County registry, Issac Wright in 1 806 devised
a life estate in all of his property to his wife,
Ann. After Issac Wright died, about 1 808, his
widow Ann waited until the children had
reached majority and in 1825, Ann joined
with the children and their spouses to divide
the property and Flat Bay Farm was among
the lands deeded to Stephen Wright (1800-
1851).

After Stephen's death his son, Issac Wright,
II inherited a portion of Flat Bay Farm and by
deed dated February 5, 1852, recorded in
Book K, page 292, Columbus County registry,
conveyed 1 50 acres to his brother, Richard
Wright (1826-1876). Richard had already
purchased an adjacent portion of what was to
be Flat Bay Farm from McKenney Sims, a rel-
ative, by deed dated January 23, 1850,
recorded in Book J, page 644, Columbus
County registry.

Many years after the death of Richard
Wright, a Confederate Veteran, his family
divided the property and, a son, Mayon
Wright ( 1 870- 1 947) inherited that portion of
the lands of Richard Wright which is now
owned by Ottis Richard Wright. During the
years after the death of Mayon Wright in
1947, Ottis Wright purchased the interest of
several of his brothers and now is the owner of
a tract of approximately 160 acres known as
Flat Bay Farm located in the Vinegar Hill
Community of Columbus County, about four
miles east of the town of Taber City.

On other Wright property, and within two
miles of Flat Bay Farm, lie the remains of his
father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and
great-great-grandfather Wright.

Submitted by Ottis R. and Olive Battle Wright

Columbus

THE WYCHE FARM

More than a century ago, a young school
teacher named Henry Wyche (1859-1904)
brought his bride to live in a modest frame
house on a farm he had recently purchased in
Bogue Township in Columbus County. The
farm was never intended as their sole means
of support, but it provided food for their
table, wool and cotton for their clothing, sus-
tenance for their livestock, wood for their
fireplaces and lumber for their building
needs. The husband augmented their income
by teaching or by railroad work, and the wife
by being the one and only postmistress of the
community post office. They reared two sons
who managed to go to college, one to Wake
Forest and the other to Campbell.

An official from NCSU came annually to blood test
the chickens to see that they were free from disease.
Note that the barns in the background are made from
hand-hewn timbers.

Henry Wyche was a leader in agricultural
organizations, notably the Farmers Alliance.
He was a contributor to the "Progressive Far-
mer" magazine and solicited subscribers for
that publication. His library contained many
enormous volumes of scientific research pub-
lished by the United States Commissioner of
Agriculture from 1 873 on. (The 1 888 edition
describes formulas for making oleomarga-
rine! An alternate name for it was "butter-
ine.")

So began the farm now known as "Wyche-
wood." Henry Wyche and his wife divided
the land between their two sons. The younger
son, James (1883-1963) followed the pattern
set by his father as he supplemented this farm
income as rural mail carrier and postmaster
and as a country-store merchant. He also
acquired more acreage. Tobacco was the big
money crop during his lifetime, but he
branched out into raising poultry with an
incubator, five chicken houses and thorough-
bred chicks. Eggs were sold to a hatchery. Pro-
duction of honey was another of his projects.

Now his oldest child, Mary Wyche Mintz,
supervises the agricultural activities, which
are quite a contrast to her thirty-eight years of
teaching. At the present, soybeans and corn
dominate the landscape.

Submitted by Mary Wyche Mintz

THE YATES FARM

Luke I. Yates married Julia Ann Rockwell
December 12, 1850. One of their children was
my grandmother, Sarah Lucretia Yates.
Sarah Lucretia "Lou" Yates lived on the
Yates homestead (obtained August 24, 1877)
with her parents until she married Doctor F.
Williamson on July 1 2, 1 884. Lou and Doctor
established a home in Bladenboro where my
father, James Carr Williamson (known as
Carr) was born on July 25, 1885. Later the
three of them moved to Georgia. Due to the
unexpected death of Lou's husband, Doctor,
in 1890, Lou and Carr returned to the Yates
family homestead.

Eva Burns and J. Carr Williamson with Irene Matil-
da Williamson (left knee), Grace Lou Williamson
(right knee), Ida Burns Williamson (standing) and
Hazel Burns (in Ida's arms).

Carr lived on the farm with his mother,
Lou, (maternal grandparents), and an aunt,
Matilda "Tillie" Yates, where they grew corn,
cotton, sweet potatoes, and grain. After his
grandfather Yates' death in 1900, Carr con-
tinued to live on the Yates farm with his fami-
ly. He gradually gained control of the farming
operation, eventually adding strawberries
and tobacco to the existing crops.

The sunny south colony movement
between 1889 and the early 1900s caused an
influx of settlers into Columbus County. Ida
Viola Burns (born in Springfield, Minnesota)
later joined her colony family to live in Chad-
bourn where she met Carr Williamson. After
seven years of courting, Ida and Carr were
married on April 23, 1913. They moved into
the homeplace with his grandparents and
aunt. (Carr's mother, Lou, remarried and
moved away in 1912.)

Ida and Carr had four daughters. The first
two, Grace and Irene were born in the Yates
home. In 1918, Carr moved his family,
including his grandmother and aunt, into a
new home "across the road." In this new
home two more daughters, Lois and Clara
were born.

Until her death July 9,1918, Julia Rockwell
Yates, Carr's grandmother, lived with Ida,
Carr, Grace, Irene and Aunt Tillie. Lou,
Carr's mother, returned after the death of her
second husband to live with Carr's family
until her death August 14, 1931. Carr gradual-
ly purchased from relatives the entire Yates
homestead. I became heir to the Yates' home-
place when he died October 15, 1976. My
family and I refer to this farm as the YWY
(Yates, Williamson, Yoder) Blue Pond Farm.

We celebrated my father's 89th birthday in
July 1974, at the site of the original Yates

home. Friends and relatives, many of them
with memories of the laughter and play were
there to reminisce.

I have fond memories of the "old house"
and its pecan lane, wild flowers, grape arbor,
figs, black walnuts and hickory nut trees. Red
and white roses were always present on Moth-
er's Day.

Submitted by Lois Burns Williamson Yoder

THE YATES FARM

In 1773, John Yates received a land grant
signed by Josiah Martin for 250 acres on the
south side of Porter Swamp in Bladen Coun-
ty. From 1779-1796, John Yates and his son
Luke acquired several thousand acres of land
by grant and purchase in Bladen County in
the Porter Swamp-Bacon Branch area. Fol-
lowing the death of Luke Yates in 1829, his
lands were divided among his children, one of
whom was a son, John Yates. Luke and his
son, John, lived all their lives along Bacon
Branch in Bladen County.

John Yates (son of Luke) died in 1 860. On
the inside front cover of his Methodist
Hymns is written, John Yates, my book, July
25, 1825, Bacon Branch. The division of the
lands of John Yates in 1867 names his son,
Robert G. Yates as one of the six tenants in
common of the lands descended to them as
children and heirs at law of John Yates,
deceased.

Robert G. Yates established his residence
on the acreages inherited from his father and
his children, Helen Ann and Clara, were born
there. He was engaged in farming and naval
stores. After 1900 he made his home in Fair
Bluff, operated a mercantile business, but
retained his farming interests. For a time his
brother Rufus lived on the farm and some of
the children of Rufus Yates lived and worked
on the farm for over 60 years. Marketable
crops grown at various times over the years
included rice, cotton and corn. After the
establishment of the strawberry industry, the
Yates family planted a substantial acreage
and continued in the production of strawber-
ries as a major crop until the industry
declined.

Robert G. Yates died in 1932 and his
daughters, Helen Ann and Clara Yates
Nance, inherited the farm. Their first cousins
(the children of Rufus Yates) continued to
live and work on the farm. In addition to
strawberries, crops produced included tobac-
co, sweet potatoes, soybeans and wheat. In
1 948, after the death of her sister, Clara Yates
Nance deeded the farm to her first cousins
Hannah and Caroline Yates (daughters of
Rufus Yates) retaining a life estate.

In 1 960, nine acres of the farm were except-
ed and deeded to a nephew of Hannah and
Caroline Yates, Robert Allen Yates, Sr. and
his wife, Catherine Simmons Yates. In 1963
the farm was deeded to Robert A. Yates, Sr.,
a dentist, and Rufus Glenn Yates, a farmer,
by their aunts. Dr. and Mrs. Yates and their
children, Robert Allen, Jr. and Mary Lee built
their home on the farm in 1961.

In 1983, Dr. Robert Yates purchased his
brother Rufus Glenn's portion of the Yates
farm, and at the death of his Aunt Caroline in
1986, he and his wife became the owners of
the farm.

Robert Allen Yates, Jr. attended North
Carolina State University and in 1981

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Columbus — Craven

A Yates family gath

returned to the Yates farm to make his home
and is actively engaged in farming. Crops pro-
duced are corn, soybeans and tobacco.

Dr. Yates and his family enjoy hobbies that
can be developed on the farm, with particular
interest in grapes, bees, vegetable and house
plant gardening.

Submitted by Mrs. Robert Yates
Craven County

THE BELLAIR FARM

During the 1 700s, a three-story house with
six large rooms was built on a piece of proper-
ty called the Bellair Estate, located six miles
northwest of New Bern. The house was made
from brick brought from England with a foun-
dation of shell rock from the banks of Batche-
lor Creek, which borders the property. Today
the Bellair Plantation house is on the Nation-
al Register of Historical places and is listed
with the North Carolina Division of Archives
and History. Restoration work is now under
way to restore the house back to the 1 700 peri-
od.

The Bellair farm, taken in 1896.

It wasn't until 1 838 that Bellair was sold to
John H. Richardson. The Civil War broke out
shortly after the purchase. Many homes and
farm buildings were destroyed, but Bellair
was spared. General A.E. Burnside, Com-
mander of the Union Army in the New Bern
Area, issued an order in 1862 to safeguard
Bellair and its inhabitants. John H. Richard-
son's wife was Penelope Bogey.

John Richardson derived his livelihood
from a turpentine business he operated near
Tuscarora, North Carolina. This business was
destroyed by Union Forces during the Civil
War.

By 1 9 1 8, Graham Tull Richardson, Sr., son
of John Richardson, had built the place into a
thriving farm. Acres of strawberries, corn,
wheat, cotton, hay, herds of Aberdeen Angus

ering around 1916.

cows, sheep and goats were part of the total
farm operation. An added investment was an
orchard of 300 pecan trees. The farm featured
one of the very few silos in this part of the
country. At his death in 1 920, at age 6 1 , Gra-
ham Tull was one of the most successful farm-
ers in North Carolina and also known as a pro-
moter of livestock in the state. Sallie E. Metts
was the wife of Graham Richardson, Sr.

Graham Tull Richardson, Jr. (Tull), an
only child, took up operation of the farm. He
developed a dairy operation in 1 940 that sur-
vived into the 1960s. He was an officer and
director of the local Production Credit Asso-
ciation for 45 years. The Board of Directors of
East Carolina Production Credit Association
appointed Mr. Richardson to the position of
Director Emeritus on November 10, 1976.
His interest in farming was always first in his
heart. He was born at Bellair and lived there
for 9 1 years. His wife's name was Pearl Daw-
son.

Graham Tull Richardson, III, fourth gener-
ation of Richardsons, nowlivesat Bellair with
his wife, Ethlyn Koon, and son, Karl Graham
Richardson.

Of the 400 acres of plantation, about 165
acres are in cultivation. Currently the farm
has timber, tobacco, corn and soybean pro-
duction as part of its operation. Plans to con-
tinue to farm the land are still very much a
part of this generation.

Submitted by Ethlyn K. Richardson

THE FULCHER FARM

Family lore indicates that Fulchers farmed
in the general area earlier than 1 855. Howev-
er, records show that at least a portion of the
farm was purchased in January, 1 855 by Wil-
liam A. Fulcher. His major crop was tobacco.
Corn was grown to feed the stock.

The four children of William Fulcher inher-
ited the farm in 1 897, and the land was divid-
ed. Bryan, a son, purchased acreage from his
brothers and sister. Over the years, he pur-
chased additional acreage. His crops included
tobacco, corn, sweet potatoes and broccoli.
He deeded portions of his farm to his older
children so that each would have his own
farm. In 1935, Bryan Fulcher divided the
remaining land among his younger children.

Only one son, John, chose to continue
farming. He, as his father did, purchased acre-
age from his brothers. The main crop was still
tobacco. Soybeans were substituted for sweet
potatoes, and corn became a cash crop. He
retired several years ago. His wife, Peggy, and
their children, Sandra, Frank and Gary, con-
tinue to farm the land and plan to do so for
many years. John Fulcher died on December
19, 1987, but his love for the land lives on
through his children and grandchildren.

Submitted by Peggy B. Fulcher

THE IPOCK FARM

Brice Ipock (b. 7 April 1 836, d. 14 Septem-
ber, 1915) was the son of Samuel and Eliza-
beth Ipock. He was the third child of eight.

John and Peggy with their children and grandchil-
dren — L to R: daughter Sandra, granddaughter
Chrystal, son-in-law Bobby Whitford, Peggy, son
Frank, grandson Brent, John, and son Gary.

L to R, seated: Gomira Bell Wilson, Brice Ipock.
(standing) Lydia Ipock Wilson. Maria Davis Ipock
and Stella Ipock. Taken in March, 1913.

The family story goes that after his sisters
married and his parents were deceased, Brice
and his brothers acquired a homesite at
Washington Fork, at the intersection of Hwys
55 and old 70, west of New Bern. They lived
together there until brother Samuel Jr. mar-
ried, at which time all but Samuel and wife
moved to the Beech Grove area.

In 1 875 Brice moved to the Asbury section
of the county with two of his younger single
brothers. During these years, Brice himself
had married two times, both wives having
died young. Soon after purchasing the Asbury
site he met his third wife of the same commu-
nity. He married Maria Perkins Davis (b. 16
October 1856, d. 15 March 1943) on March
27, 1878.

On deeds dated, February 22, 1887 and
December 23, 1897, portions of the Asbury
plantation were deeded to brother, William
(Bill), and brother, George, as they also were
now married and had established homes on
these sites. One lived on either side, with
brother Brice's acreage in the middle.

Brice and Maria had ten children: Claude
Franklin Ipock married Rosa Davis; Wade
Ipock; James Alphious (Alf) Ipock married
Annie Oneta Simmons; Lydia Lamiller Ipock
married Olumphus (Lymp) Wilson; Hervey

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Craven — Cumberland

Crowson Ipock married 1st Beulah Davis,
2nd Myrtle Davis Perry, 3rd Mary Bell; Susan
Penelope Ipock; Brice Benjamin (Benny)
Ipock; Leinster Duffy Ipock, Nat Street Ipock
and Brice Bryant Ipock married Jessie Pearl
Civils.

When (Jim) James Alphious Ipock, Jr., one
of Brice and Maria's grandsons, married Jose-
lyn May Paul on February 14, 1942, the
Asbury lands passed again. Joselyn met Maria
soon after she and Jim were married. Joselyn
and Maria shared a mutual birthday (Oct. 1 6).
On Maria's last birthday, she was 86 years
old. Maria passed away on March 1 5, 1 943.

Submitted by James A. Ipock, Jr.

THE McCOY FARM

Jeremiah Heath was a Free Will Baptist
minister and a surveyor who sold 1 00 acres of
land to my great-grandfather, William S.
McCoy, in 1846. Jeremiah's son, William
Heath, also sold 50 acres to William S. McCoy
in 1855. This land became my grandfather,
Timothy McCoy's, after the Civil War. Timo-
thy McCoy deeded the land to his sons, one of
whom was my father, Scott Winfield McCoy.
After several years, Scott bought his brother's
shares and eventually two of his own sons,
Paul and myself, S. Woodrow, assumed own-
ership of this land.

The Scott W. McCoy old homeplace. Scott seen here
with his wife and children.

An early explorer of North Carolina said,
"Do not settle south of the Neuse River. You
will perish — poor, pine barren land." Years
later it was found that "reeds" grew abun-
dantly in this very area and cattle were able to
graze until January. This was true, especially
in the pocosin or "swamp on a hill."

Our ancestors, with their herds, moved
south into this region. They found good
organic soil and sand clay in many areas. The
pine trees became valuable while producing
lumber, tar, pitch and turpentine.

My wife, Edith Henderson McCoy, and I
along with our children, have a herd of 1 10
Holsteins. We milk them twice daily on the
farm which my father deeded by his father in
1 894. Our family always had free range cattle
until the early 1920s. After the stock law was
passed, my father began developing perma-
nent pastures. We have continued to use pas-
ture for grazing our dairy herd.

Since the early 1940s, we have purchased
over 1000 acres with much pasture for a beef
herd. There are 300 acres planted in beautiful
pines as part of America's Tree Farm Family
Program.

Our three children live and work on the
farm along with our six grandchildren. They

are the sixth generation to live on this land.

Submitted by S. Woodrow McCoy

THE WEST FARM

Since 1764, six generations of Wests have
been landowners and farmers along Moseley
Creek in Craven County. John West bought
107 acres of land from Moses Tillman of Dob-
bs County (now Lenoir County). He contin-
ued purchasing land through the years until
he owned 572 acres. His will was probated in
1 800. He left all the land to one son, Levi Ter-
rence West (1751-1830), and 150 pounds to
his other six children.

The Marion Parnell West, Sr. family.

In 1830, Levi West died, leaving the 572
acres to one son, Kinion Terrence West
( 1 797- 1 865). Through the years, Kinion West
bought land in the surrounding area until he
owned 1 ,472 acres. In his will of 1 865, he left
all the land to one son, William Henry West
and $500 each to his other 14 children. He
was married three times.

In 1875, James Lewis West (1850-1898)
bought three-fourths of an acre of land from
his half brother, William Henry West and
built the original West homeplace. Through-
out the years, he bought the rest of the 572
acres from William Henry West.

Zeb Vance West ( 1 876- 1939), oldest son of
James Lewis West, inherited 80 acres from
his father in 1 900. He purchased 278 acres of
land from his two brothers and one sister. He
did not buy the other 2 1 4 acres from his other
three sisters. Prior to his death, he had pur-
chased 300 acres of land.

Zeb Vance West was the father of 1 1 chil-
dren. His wife was Bessie Ann Kilpatrick. At
his death, the nine living children inherited
his estate. His youngest son, Marion Parnell
West, Sr. inherited the West homeplace and
90 acres of land in 1 94 1 . The rest of the origi-
nal West land is owned by his two brothers,
James Harpel West and Zeb Tull West.

The West farm will be left to my daughter,
Glenda West Fulmer and two sons, Marion
Parnell West, Jr. and Randall Lynn West. I
am hoping that this land will continue to be
farmed by them and my six grandchildren
into the next century.

Submitted by Mar- m Pai tell West, Sr.

Cumberland County

THE BULLOCK FARM

James Bullock and Lydia Roundtree were
married in Ireland in 1761 and immediately
immigrated to this country. Their 160 acre
homestead was located on South River at the
mouth of Sandy Creek in Cumberland Coun-
ty. The plat of the original acreage, dated
November 1 7, 1 759, and the grant for it from
King George, II of England, dated April 21,
1761, are in the hands of the present owner,
Evelyn Bullock Bullard. She inherited this
multi-century farm from her father, Buckner
G. Bullock in 1973.

Since 1761, there have been five genera-
tions of owners. The farm passed from James
and Lydia Roundtree Bullock to their son,
Thomas Bullock and wife, Rachael Sessoms;
then to their son, Thomas Bullock and wife,
Sarah Fisher; then to their son, Buckner G.
Bullock and wife, Maggie Downing. Buck-
ner's children were all daughters — thus the
farm passed from the Bullock name to a
daughter, Evelyn Bullock Bullard.

In the earlier years, the land was used chief-
ly for turpentine, tar and logging. These were
rafted and floated down South River to the
Cape Fear River and on to Wilmington to
market, a distance of about 80 miles. Barrels
for the turpentine and tar were made in the
barrel shop on the farm by the first Thomas
Bullock, who was known as the "barrel mak-
er."

These barrels and logs were rafted at Bul-
lock's landing on South River and floated to
Wilmington when water in the river was high.
This high water was generally spoken of as a
"Spring Freshet" and a "Fall Freshet," as they
had without fail, rain enough each spring and
each fall to float their rafts. The men ate and
slept on their rafts when going downstream.
They came back by boat up the Cape Fear
River to Cedar Creek, then walked home the
remaining seven miles.

As years passed, the land was taken over by
farming. Tobacco, corn, soybeans and wheat
are now being grown. Yams, cotton, strawber-
ries, dewberries, hogs and cows as were grown
by previous generations have been discontin-
ued.

Family hopes and dreams are that this
farm, along with what has been added to it,
may remain active indefinitely, passing from
generation to generation, you might say, as a
sort of family heirloom.

Submitted by Evelyn Bullock Bullard

THE FISHER FARM

The Troy A. Fisher, Sr. farm was first
acquired in 1840 by his great-grandfather,
Raiford Fisher. It was then passed on to his
son, Haywood Fisher in 1873. Haywood
enlisted in the Confederate States Army on
August 6, 1 86 1 . He was wounded at Chancel-
lorsville, Virginia, and promoted to sergeant.
He was later captured by the Union Army at
Stephenson's Depot, Virginia, in July, 1864
and released in June, 1865 at Camp Chase,
Ohio.

In 1901 the farm was passed to William
Ancil Fisher, his oldest son. In 1919 it was
bought by his brother, Walter Lalaster Fisher
who was the father of Troy A. Fisher, Sr. Troy
acquired the land in 1942, and actively

77

The Fisher farm.

farmed until 1975. He represented Cumber-
land County in the N.C. House of Represen-
tatives in the General Assemblies of 1949,
1951 and 1953. Troy died in July of 1985. He
is survived by his wife, Bertha, and six chil-
dren. Bertha, Nancy and John Ewing, Mary
Troy, Jr., William and his wife Pamela and
their two children, Paige and Matthew, reside
on the farm. Helen and Sue Fisher reside in
Fayetteville.

William and Troy, Jr. have been the owners
and operators of the farm since 1985. Tobac-
co, corn, peanuts and soybeans are the main
crops.

Raiford Fisher and his wife, Janet, and
their youngest son, William, along with Hay-
wood Fisher and his wife, Narcissus, are bur-
ied in the family cemetery located on the
homeplace.

The farm is located in southeastern Cum-
berland County, 1 6 miles east of Fayetteville.

In summary, our family survived the Civil
War, the Great Depression, recent recessions
and the devastating tornadoes of 1984. We
hope to be here another 1 50 years.

Submitted by William L. and Troy A. Fisher, Jr.

THE RICHARD C. McDONALD
FARM

The McDonald land is located in Rockfish
Township. The deed dates back to May 27,
1772. James A. and Edward H. McDonald
(brothers) purchased 182 acres from Donald
and Jeanette McArthur for $750. Then on
June 30, 1874, James A. purchased from
brother, Edward H., his half of the parcel of
land for $375.

The old log home, taken in 1949. It was built in 1897.
Paul G. Autry, Sr. and his son, Geddie.

Cumberland

After the death of James A., two sons,
George C. and Richard C. McDonald, pur-
chased the 182 acres from heirs, James E.
McDonald, Fannie A. Ray, Katie E. Ray and
the estate of the late Alice McDonald for the
sum of $400.

On April 7, 1910, A.J. Johnson and B.W.
Townsend deeded 7.7 acres to George C. and
Richard C. McDonald for $77.

On December 8, 1 923, George C. and Rich-
ard C. purchased 66.32 acres from W.H. and
Bettie H. Williams and W.O. and Minnie P.
Singletary, known as the "Dr. Gilbert land"
for the sum of $1,000.

On December 6, 1 928, George C. and Rich-
ard C. McDonald divided their acres into two
parts. Richard C. was deeded 1 06 acres, more
or less which included the McDonald home
(built around 1 897), also six barns, one tenant
farmhouse, and the original log cabin and
kitchen, where George C. and Richard C.
McDonald were born.

Richard C. McDonald married Nancy
Agusta (known as Gussie) Davis on February
7, 1915. To them were born identical twin
sons, George Kenneth and James C, John
Beamon, A. Olive and G. Berline. Only the
two daughters survived. G. Berline McDon-
ald Harrel is the mother of three sons and one
daughter. A. Olive McDonald Autry is the
mother of two sons.

Upon the death of "Gussie" McDonald,
October 9, 1951, Richard C. divided his
estate, 56 acres, to Berline McDonald Harrel
and 5 1 acres and the home to Olive McDon-
ald and husband, Paul G. Autry, Sr., with his
lifetime rights and agreement to care for him
until death. Olive McDonald lived with hus-
band Paul G. Autry, Sr. and sons, P. Geddie
Autry, Jr. and Steven M. Autry, and with
Richard C. McDonald in his old home, which
the family renovated in 1952. Richard C.
McDonald died August 3, 1960. Paul G.
Autry, Sr., died August 20, 1965.

On October 8, 1966, Olive McDonald
Autry married Robert H. Glock. Robert H.
Glock had one son, Robert M. and one daugh-
ter, M. Lucinda Glock.

The old McDonald home burned in May,
1968. Robert and Olive Glock built a new
brick house in 1972 on the same location as
the old home.

The old log house was surrounded by barns
after the second home was built. It had two
large rooms and a lean-to across the back with
two small rooms. The larger room had a big
fireplace. The kitchen was about 150 feet
away from the house. There was a water well
about halfway between the buildings. The
kitchen also had a huge fireplace used for
cooking as well as heating.

Brick from the chimneys and foundation of
the old 1 897 farm home were used in the new
1 972 brick home for a huge brick fireplace in
the family room and also as a wall between the
kitchen and family room. The old "heart of
pine" timbers in one of the old hay and stor-
age barns were used to build the family room
and kitchen. Old hand hewn beams from the
barn were used as "open beams" over head in
the kitchen and family room. The house is fur-
nished with old and antique furnishings
handed down from the two old homes.

Before these buildings were destroyed, in
them were several old spinning wheels, a
weaving loom that my grandmother wove

cloth to make the family clothes. They also
had one of the first cotton gins, hay baler,
bean pickers, corn planters, stalk cutters, corn
shellers, mowing machines, hay rakes, one
and two horse wagons, one and two horse rid-
ing buggies, an apple press used for making
cider, also a grape press for wine. There were
all types of plows and other articles used on
the farm and drawn by mules or horses.

They also bought the 55 acres from her sis-
ter, Berline McDonald Harrel. Later they
deeded one acre each to sons, P. Geddie and
Steven M. Autry. Each have built nice homes
on their lots and will inherit the remainder of
the 51 acres. The 55 acres and the house will
be divided equally between P. Geddie Autry,
Jr., Steven M. Autry, Robert M. Glock and M.
Lucinda Glock upon the deaths of Robert H.
and Olive McDonald Glock.

Submitted by Olive McDonald Glock

THE STERLING FARM

Sterling J. Farm has been a part of our fam-
ily since 1870. Over the years we have pro-
duced several crops, rice being the unusual
one. We also produced corn, cotton, tobacco,
peanuts, sugar cane, wheat, oats, rye and bar-
ley.

The farm had a three-room log house that
my grandfather, Daniel, a confederate sol-
dier, built. All eight of his children were born
in the house including my father, B.J.
Ammons. The other seven children were
Mirian, Lula, Fannie Willie, Duncan, Sari
Willie and Jim.

Around 1910, my father built another
house in which all his children were born.
Their names were Alice, James, Elmore,
Ruby, J.B., Aliene, Lois, Ozelle, Dizzi and
myself. In 1975, I built a new home for my
family.

This farm has been continuously operated
by the Ammons family. It is my dream that
my son will continue to operate the farm.

The original farm land consisted of 37-1/2
acres in 1870. My father purchased an addi-
tional 1 7 acres. At the present time with land
that I have added there are 500 acres. The
farm is primarily a cattle operation and for a
family cemetery. Submitted by Gene S. Ammons

THE UNDERWOOD FARM

This farm belonged to the Underwood
family well over 100 years ago. It was at one
time known as the Sykes land, then later as the
Cole Camp land. The Underwoods married
into the Cole family and then inherited this
property and have owned it until this date.
The land is in two tracts, part in Beaver Dam
Township and part in Cedar Creek Township.
This farm lies between Cedar Creek and Tar-
heel Road, known as Tabor Church Road and
Cape Fear River, joining Cape Fear River in
southeast Cumberland County.

The farm received supplies by riverboat
from Wilmington and Fayetteville, such as
fertilizer, staple groceries and dry goods. In
the early years there were tenant farmers with
dwellings on this farm tending tobacco, cot-
ton, corn, beans and hog and beef cattle. Also
at one time there was a general store, cotton
gin and grist mill on this farm. All these origi-
nal buildings, barns, store and storehouses
and homes were completely demolished in
the tornado of March 1984.

Cumberland — Currituck — Davidson

Walter L. Underwood has built back and
still lives here. Walter has a brother, James
Leroy Underwood, half owner of the River
tract of this farm, consisting of 1 39 acres join-
ing Cape Fear River in southeast Cumberland
County in Cedar Creek Township.

Walter's home is on the Beaver Dam Town-
ship tract of this property. His brother's part
of this tract was sold by him, and they have a
large hog operation on his part of this tract
consisting of two farrowing houses, two nur-
series, one gestation house, two topping hous-
es, with 365 brood sows and 24 boars.

Submitted by Walter L. Underwood

Currituck County

THE MATHIAS FAMILY

William Brabble in his last will and testa-
ment dated November 28, 1778, gave his
daughter, Chloe the plantation whereon he
lived located in Currituck County on Buck-
skin Road between Sligo and Currituck
Courthouse. Chloe married Burrough
Mathias in 1791 and lived on this plantation
where they had six children. In her last will
recorded February 18, 1823, she divided the
plantation among her sons, John, Simon, Wil-
liam and Hillary.

John Mathias acquired some of the shares
of the plantation from his brothers. John mar-
ried Polly Bell and they had three children:
Caleb Bell Mathias, Burwell and Adelia. Bur-
well died prior to his father's death and Caleb
received the plantation in his father's last will
dated January 20, 1872.

Caleb Mathias married Margaret Williams
February 20, 1863, and they had two chil-
dren, Laura "Lillie" Bel Mathias and Caleb
Bell Mathias, Jr. Caleb Jr., "Bloss" as he was
commonly known, never married. Lillie
Mathias married Manly West in 1890 and
they had ten children. Of these ten children,
Maggie became a school teacher, Basil
became a Baltimore City policeman, Paul
became a lawyer in Raleigh later serving as a
City Judge, Luther was a mechanic for Curri-
tuck County schools, Saul was an engineer on
a passenger boat between Baltimore and Nor-
folk and Manly continued the farming tradi-
tion. Manly married Marjorie Morris in 1939
and they had one son, Manly Morris West,
who after his father's death in June, 1969,
continues to farm part of the original planta-
tion along with the lands that have been add-
ed to the farming operation through the years.

Submitted by Manly M. West

Davidson County

THE COLE FARM

This farm is located in southern Davidson
County, Healings Springs Township, on the
Yadkin River one mile below High Rock
dam. It is in what was known in 1729 as the
Granville District, and is a part of over 1000
acres acquired by land grants from 1779 to
1784 to the great-great-grandfather of Albert
Milton Cole. The farm now contains 236
acres, the balance having been divided among
the heirs over the past 200 years.

The grants issued rights to the middle of the
Yadkin River. In the early 1 960s the Tucker
Town dam was built and backwater covered

The present residence was built in 1890 by James
Milton Cole.

or damaged 20 acres of the farm bordering on
the river.

The Winston-Salem Southbound Railroad
crosses the farm between the residence and
ihe river. Also, the HPT and D railroads cross
the north corner. The Lick Creek Road
divides the land from north to south.

At the present time, about one half of the
farm is open cultivated land or pasture. Hard-
wood and set pines cover the balance.

Albert Milton Cole (1895-1967) inherited
the farm from his father, James Milton Cole
(1859-1 934), who inherited it from his father,
Thomas Cole (1815-1905).

The farm was operated by Albert Milton
Cole from 1 920 until 1 967. Grain, cotton and
an allotment of tobacco were the principle
crops under cultivation during these years. In
1931 he was awarded the certificate of
"Grade A Farmer" under the North Carolina
Live at Home Farming Program. In 1952
Governor W. Kerr Scott conferred upon Mil-
ton Cole the honorary proclamation of
"Country Squire."

The first residence, built by Thomas Cole,
was situated on a hill overlooking the river
and was abandoned around 1 890 when James
Milton Cole built a seven room, two-story
country home surrounded by century oaks.

Today, Albert Milton Cole's widow, Freda
Morgan Cole lives in the country home and
the farm is registered in her name. She has
operated the farm as a beef cattle farm along
with vegetables and fruit since 1967 with the
help and cooperation of her son, Albert
Brooks Cole of Lexington. She has two daugh-
ters, Miss Ruth Elizabeth Cole of Charlotte
and High Rock and Virginia Cole Johnson
who lives nearby.

Submitted by Mrs. A.M. Cole

THE HANES FARM

On November 7, 1842, Jonathan Fishel
bought 60 acres in the edge of Davidson
County in the Friedberg community. He built
a log house and barn and married Louisa
Spach in 1849. He raised some tobacco but
mostly food crops. They had five children and
daughter Lucinda married Charlie Foltz in
1886 and continued farming and caring for
her elderly father. This union resulted in three
children.

By 1 903, they had added another log room
and four rooms of brick to the front of the
house. Charlie died in 1904 and Alva, 16
years old, continued to farm and improve the
land. He married Bertha Crouch in 1913 and
to that union seven children were born.

In the 1930s, Alva developed a dairy farm
and lots of truck crops and discontinued
tobacco. In the 1950s Alva divided his land
between the five living children and Evva the
youngest who married Travis Hanes, built a
house on 1 1 acres of her land. She bought one
sister's share in 1 968 and the homeplace from
a brother in 1980 and three other acreage
tracts adjoining.

Evva and Travis, not caring to farm, plant-
ed their 70 acres in Loblolly Pines in the
1970s and early 1980s. They dismantled the
entire house and put it back up, the log part as
originally built and the brick park enlarged
for closets and bathrooms. The home will be
passed on to their youngest daughter, Caro-
line.

It was in this log kitchen, Ewa learned to
make and bake Moravian cookies on a wood
stove as a child. Their business is next to the
homeplace "Moravian Sugar Crisp Co., Inc."
Their cookies are ordered and shipped to all
50 states and many foreign countries and are
known nationally.

Submitted by Mrs. Travis F. Hanes

THE HARRISON FARM

The ancestry of this farm family in south-
ern Davidson County can be traced to Gideon
Harrison. He settled south of Denton on a
tract of over 1 000 acres in 1818, after having
moved from Halifax County. Much of this
land, located between Jackson Hill and
Handy, is still owned by the many descen-
dants of Gideon Harrison. Before moving to
Kentucky, where he later died, he gave his
land and slaves to his children who stayed
behind.

The third son of Gideon, Henry Harrison,
raised 12 children on his 250 acres given to
him by his father. His youngest son, William
Hosea, born June 1, 1852, died March 3,
1 946, married Frinless Loflin and reared four
children on part of this same land.

William Hosea's only son, Benjamin, was
Ronnie Harrison's grandfather. He farmed
the land and raised hogs, as well as, worked at
a sawmill. He and his wife, Lena Loflin Harri-
son, raised five children. His youngest son,
Ronnie's father, has farmed this land all of his
life. Herlie married Frances Smith and raised
four children. Although he worked as a car-
penter, upholsterer, and sawmill worker, his
love is the farm. Herlie and Ronnie farm 300
acres, have a 40 sow farrow to finish hog oper-
ation and a small beef cow herd.

Ronnie Harrison married Virginia John-
son, and they have three daughters. Ronnie is
the sixth generation to farm this land over the
past 1 70 years, and he hopes it will stay in the
Harrison family for generations to come.

Submitted by Ronnie Harrison

THE HEDRICK FARM

Johann Peter Heyderick arrived in Ameri-
ca on September 1 1,1 738, on the ship "Rob-
ert and Alice." He settled in Lancaster Coun-
ty, Pennsylvania, near the Swatara Gap in the
Blue Mountains. He had experienced military
training before coming to America. Quickly,
he organized "Fort Swatara." This was before
the French and Indian War. He held the rank
of Captain even after provincial troops were
stationed at the fort. After the war, the Hey-
derick family continued to live and farm in

79

Davidson

L to R: Lizzie Foltz, Delilah Fishel, Alva Foltz
Foltz, 1895.

Sidney Foltz, Charley Foltz, Lucinda Fishel Foltz and Leila

the Swatara Gap area. Between 1755 and
1760, Johann Peter Heyderick's two sons,
Peter and Adam, immigrated from Pennsyl-
vania to North Carolina to the area which is
now Silver Hill Township of Davidson Coun-
ty along the west side of the Four Mile Branch.

The Revolutionary War began; Johann
Peter Heyderick organized, out-fitted and
trained a company of men to be attached to
Colonel Green's Battalion (Flying Camp) of
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He was
then commissioned a Lt. Colonel.

Johann Peter Heyderick's son, Peter, was
active with the North Carolina troops and
was commissioned a Captain. Captain Peter
Hedrick was a farmer, a patriot and a leader in
founding the Beck's Reformed Church (now
the Beck's United Church of Christ).

Captain Peter Hedrick had six children.
Two of his children, George and Adam, have
lineage that can be traced to the children of
John Franklin Ward (Frank Ward) and his
wife, Pearlie Ester Hedrick Ward.

George Hedrick had nine children. Colonel
Phillip Hedrick was the oldest. He had eight
children. The eldest, Samuel Hedrick, had
two children, Barbara and Neaty. Neaty
Hedrick married Allen Hedrick (another lin-
eage from Captain Peter Hedrick not yet
traced). Neaty and Allen Hedrick had six chil-
dren. The youngest child was Pearlie Ester
Hedrick. She married John Franklin Ward.

Pearlie Ester Hedrick Ward inherited 35.5
acres of land located on both sides of the Four
Mile Branch in Davidson County from Neaty
and Allen Hedrick. Part of this land was deed-
ed to the family of Allen Hedrick in 1876 from
Daniel and Tempa Swing in Deed Book 23,
page 52 1 of the Davidson County Registry of
Deeds. This land is included in the lands now
owned by the Frank Ward Estate.

Captain Peter Hedrick's son, Adam, had
eight children. His third child, Phillip, had
seven children. Phillip's youngest child, Loui-
sa Hedrick married Fisher Ward. They had
seven children. John Franklin Ward was the
second child.

Phillip, Adam's third child, was a large land
owner. He willed to Louisa's seven children a
tract of land containing over 140 acres. He
willed Louisa over 50 additional acres. The
1 40 acres were divided in 1 939. 21.85 acres of
this land are now included in the Frank Ward

Estate. Also, the 50 acres willed to Louisa and
the additional land Fisher Ward inherited
from another Captain Peter Hedrick lineage
was divided in 1 939. Of these lands 45.5 acres
are included in the Frank Ward estate.

My father and mother farmed this land
which they inherited. Over a lifetime they
have accumulated an additional 490 acres
which presently comprises the Frank Ward
Estate.

Pearlie Ester Hedrick Ward and John
Franklin Ward had eight children. One is
deceased. The seven remaining children
jointly own the farm. James Franklin Ward,
Jr., the oldest, still lives at the farm and farms
the land. Submitted by Wayne A. Ward

THE HEGE FARM

The Hege farm has been owned by the
Heges since 1 835. In May of that year, David
Hege, Jr. bought the 1 90 acre tract on Muddy
Creek in the Arcadia Community from Wil-
liam Scott.

The Philip Hege barn, Clemmons, N.C.

At David's widow's death in 1869, their
son, Philip Hege, started farming the land.
When he died in 1926, his son, S.O. Hege,
inherited the homeplace. S.O.'s son, Howard
Hege, ran the farm until his death in January,
1985. At the present time, the 136 acre farm
is owned by Mrs. Howard Hege and her
daughter. Over the years various crops have
been grown.

Howard Hege and his family raised tobac-
co, corn, wheat, sweet potatoes, Irish pota-

toes, hogs and a few cows.

Submitted by Mrs. Howard Hege

THE LONG FARM

Sometime about 1 750, the Felix and Regi-
na Long family traveled with other German
Reformed people from Pennsylvania and set-
tled in Rowan County, now Davidson Coun-
ty. On February 2, 1 768, abstract book 6, p.
592, Rowan County, Felix Long deeded 740
acres to Thomas and Jacob Long. Thomas to
John Long, his part of the 740 acres deeded in
1 848 John Long to Iseral Long. In 1 887 Iseral
Long heirs to John P. Long. In 1929 John P.
Long heirs to Hoy L. Long — 30 acres this
being part of the 740 acres that has never been
sold.

There are about twenty some houses on
that one time farm. My son Michael Long has
some over 100 acres he farms.

Submitted by Hoy L. Long

THE MILLER FARM

The farm presently owned by Mrs. Lee Mil-
ler (Frankie) of Lexington is located near
Abbotts Creek south of Lexington in an area
locally known as Sheet's Bottom. The original
farm (now approximately 30 acres) has been
handed down six generations and subdivided
many times over to heirs. Newer land acquisi-
tions since 1 900 have increased the total pres-
ent farm size to over 1 60 acres.

:4I

Adam and Zack Miller, great-grandsons of Mrs. Lee
Miller, at the grave marker of George (Gorg) Miller.

A deed of grant for a large tract of land was
made to George Miller in 1762. George (old
spelling was Gorg Miller) was the first genera-
tion to America. He served as a Captain in the
Revolutionary War. His resting place, along
with other family members, is located in the
heart of the original farm.

Uses of the farm over the past 200 plus
years included grazing, the growing of small
grains, corn, various vegetables, cotton, tree
farming for lumber production and of course,
hunting by family members.

Mrs. Miller, now 94 years of age, still lives
in the house she and her husband, Lee, built in
1917. Lee was a farmer and lumberman and
passed away in 1 958. They had four sons, two
still surviving and living within a mile on land
given them by their parents.

Submitted by Rod Miller, grandson

THE MILLER-GRIGGS FARM

In the early 1750s, Lord Granville of
England sold to the Moravians a 98,985 acre
tract of land in the Piedmont of North Caroli-
na. They named this settlement "Wachovia,'

80

Davidson

Samuel Lee and Eliza Burke Miller in front of the
first Miller farm home circa 1920.

and the price paid for this land was $.35 an
acre. Sometime about 1870, Samuel Lee Mil-
ler and his wife, Eliza Burke Miller, bought a
tract of land that contained 300 acres out of
this Moravian tract. The land is in Midway
Township in the northern part of Davidson
County.

In 1 884, Samuel Miller sold 50 acres to his
younger brother, Evan Miller and his wife,
Laura Burke Miller. This 50 acre tract is the
Century Farm land which is still farmed by
the current family owners. Mr. and Mrs. Sam-
uel Miller had three children: Addie Miller
who married Drury Hill; William Franklin
Miller, who married Florence Eliza Yokley;
and Jacob Miller, who married Bessie Wag-
ner.

Florence Eliza Miller, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. William F. Miller, married Johnnie L.
Griggs in 1 933 and soon after their marriage,
they bought the 50 acre tract of land from
Emmett Miller, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Evan
Miller. This land has been farmed every year
since at least 1870. Florence and Johnnie
have four sons: Johnny Griggs, Jr., William
Lynn Griggs and Robert Glenn Griggs (who
are identical twins), and Dale Miller Griggs.
All four sons were very active in 4-H and FFA.
They won many awards for their farm proj-
ects which included land judging, public
speaking, land conservation and the fair
showings of tobacco, dairy and Angus cattle,
field crops, hay and grains.

Through the years, other smaller tracts of
land have been purchased and the current
total size of the family farm is about 85 acres.
Very little land is available for farming in
Midway because it is a high growth area for
residential and commercial use. Our land
remains in its original state, and is being used
for pasture land to support a herd of about
thirty Black Angus cattle. The farm produces
crops of tobacco, corn, soybeans, oats, wheat,
hay and some produce for sale. Some stands
of the virgin forest are still on the property.

Florence and Johnnie's six grandsons are
still active in farming activities. One of John-
nie's greatest treasures is the Century Farm
plaque. I'm sure that my grandparents and
parents would have been proud of it. We owe
so much to them for their wise foresight and
hard work. Submitted by Johnnie Griggs, Sr.

THE SINK FARM

Jacob Zinck of Mayamensing, Germany,
boarded the ship Richard and Mary, to travel
to the new world. He arrived in Pennsylvania
in 1754.

In 1763 Jacob bought 300 acres in Rowan,
now Davidson County. The land was divided
between two of his sons: Phillip ( 1 70 acres)
and Johannes (130 acres). Johannes' son,
Johannes, inherited his father's land. In the
early 1 800s, the spelling of the name changed
to Sink, and he shortened his name to John
and passed the land to his oldest son, Adam,
who continued farming.

Andrew's son, Williams, was to inherit the
farm, but he was killed on a horse, leaving
another son, John L., to inherit the land. John
was a brick mason in Greensboro but moved
back to the farm in 1 9 1 4. He had two daugh-
ters, Mary and Louise who worked on the
farm along with Mary's son, John Ellis Sink,
who helped his grandfather farm.

In 1934, the Lexington City Lake devel-
oped, taking part of the original tract. Years
later after the lake expanded and divided por-
tions of the farm, the portions were sold.

When John L. died in 1 944, approximately
60 acres were left to his wife, Annie, until her
death in 1972, when the land was inherited by
Mary and deeded to John Ellis.

John and his son, John Jr., continued farm-
ing, specializing in small grains, corn and soy-
beans, and purchased additional land that
now covers 82 acres.

In 1980, John Ellis ventured full time into
the greenhouse business, and John Jr. gradu-
ally assumed more of the farm management
naming the acreage "Lakewood Farm" in
1985. He plans to continue the family tradi-
tion of farming. Submitted by John Sink, Jr.

THE SMITH FARM

A purchase by Charles Smith in 1880 of
246 acres lying between Swearing Creek and
Potts Creek and surrounding the historical
site of Jersey Church formed the nucleus of
the land owned by the heirs of Charles Smith
for four generations. Charles Smith, who
owned a brick home and property on Smith
Mountain, moved to his "Jersey Farm"
where he resided with his daughter, Susan
Elizabeth Smith, until his death in 1 894. Hav-
ing previously conveyed 55 acres to his son,
Lindsay Adderson Smith, the remaining
property was willed to his other children,
Susan Elizabeth Smith, John Franklin Smith,
Margaret Jane Crawford and Mary Frances
Miller.

The Smith homeplace on Lovelea Farm in Lexing-
ton, N.C.

At an early age the elder son of Lindsay
Smith, Willie Lovelace Smith, spent most of
his time with his "Grandpa Charlie and Aunt
Bettie" and upon his marriage to Esther Shar-
pe in 1901, moved his new bride into the
Smith homeplace. A year later Susan E. Smith

Palmer (Aunt Bettie) died leaving all her real
estate to her nephew, Willie. A conscientious,
hard-working farmer, Willie took advantage
of every opportunity and was successful in
periodically purchasing all of the original
tract except the 55 acres of his father. Willie's
industrious wife and family of eight children
remodeled the old homeplace several times.
He also swapped and purchased other proper-
ty adjoining his beloved home until at his
death, in 1945, he had accumulated approxi-
mately 330 acres. In large part the real estate
he had accumulated was divided among his
three boys.

Willie Lovelace Smith, Jr. received the
homeplace where his mother continued to
reside. "Dub" continued the sound farming
practices taught by his father and in 1953
expanded into the dairy business. When
George, his son, returned from N.C. State
University in 1977, the dairy herd was
increased, a new free-stall, lounging barn for
220 head was constructed, and George
assumed major responsibilities of the opera-
tion on approximately 100 acres of the origi-
nal land purchase by Charles Smith in 1880.
This Century Farm continues to produce
some of its forage for the dairy herd on the
original tract along with approximately 1200
acres of leased farm land. "Dub" continues to
dream of improvements and possibilities for
productive operation of Smith's Lovelea
Farm in the centuries to come.

Submitted by W.L. Smith, Jr.

THE WELBORN FARM

On February 1 1, 1882, Calvin (or Callie)
H. Welborn and his wife, the former Margaret
Catherine Veach, bought 100 acres of land in
Davidson County from Thomas A. Finch and
his wife, Rebecca. The original farm was rec-
tangular in shape, with the Davidson County
line as its eastern boundary.

The Welborn family — From I to r: Paul Hansel, C.
Hansel, Betty Jo and Joanna Joy. This picture was
taken in 1986.

At the time the farm was purchased, the
couple had seven children, and later, four
more were born. All 1 1 lived to be adults.
Although the family was large, many of the
children did not marry until late in life or not
at all and there were not many grandchildren.
Also, four sons left the area and made their
homes elsewhere. Through the years, by
inheritance and sale from one heir to another,
the major part of the acreage became the

81

Davidson — Davie

property of a grandson, Odell L. Welborn,
and his wife, Isabella. They also bought
adjoining land and the combined acreage was
farmed by Mr. Welborn until his death in
1970.

Fifty-four acres from the original 100 acre
farm bought by Callie H. Welborn is now part
of the farm that belongs to his great-grandson
and namesake, Calla Hansel Welborn, and his
wife, Betty Jo. Hansel holds a full-time job as
a diesel mechanic, but farming is in his blood.
He raises most of the feed for his herd of
polled Hereford beef cattle and he considers
himself a farmer first.

The Welborns have two children, Paul, age
26, and Joanna, age 20, who are the fourth
Welborn generation to grow up on this farm.
We hope they won't be the last.

Submitted by Betty Jo Welborn

THE WRIGHT FARM

The earliest known origins of this Wright
family of Davidson County were in the north-
eastern section of the Cid-Silver Valley com-
munity. Thomas Jefferson Wright (son of
Macajah Wright and grandson of Richard
Wright), married Delilah Elizabeth Hedrick,
daughter of George W. Hedrick of the Hedr-
ick's Grove community.

Thomas Wright's first house, built in 1875, as it
looked in 1953.

On April 1 , 1875, George Hedrick sold land
on the present Cid Road to his daughter and
new son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas
Wright. Ever since 1875, Mr. and Mrs. Thom-
as Wright or their descendants have lived on
the land George Hedrick sold to them. To this
day the land is still used by the Wright family
descendants for farming and homesteads.

Thomas Jefferson Wright was a miner and
later a foreman of a mine. Although Thomas
farmed to a lesser extent than mining, his
family members and hired hands did much of
the farming. Thomas died due to a mining
explosion in 1906 in the Herculees Gold and
Copper Company's mine in Cid.

The first house that Thomas Wright built
(about 1 875) was a log building with a chim-
ney on one end and a cellar under boards in
front of the fireplace. The cellar was used to
store vegetables. Shortly after the log house
was completed, he added a two-story struc-
ture to the front of the log house.

Thomas Jefferson and Delilah Wright had
the following children: Carl Rober, Grace,
Sally, John Duffy, Arthur Franklin, Carrie
Eldora, Guerney Nathaniel, Beulah, Essie,
Albert, Cleta and Claude. Essie, Claude, and
Albert died before they were 18 years of age

from diseases such as pneumonia, diptheria
and cholera.

In 1905 Thomas sold a homestead and
farm from part of his land to his son,
Arthur,and his daughter-in-law, Ida Lee Lam-
beth Wright. Over a period of years, Arthur
eventually acquired all the remaining land
originally owned by Thomas Wright.

Arthur and Ida Wright's children were as
follows: Lloyd, Ollie Dolan (OD), Blanche,
Wayne, Willard, Bickett, Bruce, Luther and
Margie. Arthur was a tobacco farmer for 22
years and then was a dairy farmer. The family
raised its own chickens, pigs, vegetables and
cows. Older children helped to take care of
younger children; all family members helped
with farming chores, and the children went to
school for a few months of the year. At times,
the family would board the local school teach-
er. Eventually all the children except Margie
and Luther married and moved out of the
original homestead. All the land originally
owned by Thomas Wright was transferred to
Arthur Wright who transferred it to his chil-
dren Margie, Luther, Bruce and Bickett.
Bruce Wright owns the largest amount of the
original land.

Robert Bruce Wright, son of Arthur and Ida
Wright, is still living on a part of the original
Thomas Wright land. Bruce's three siblings
and his descendants (Michael Drozd, Nancy
Drozd and Janice Hughes) own the smaller
remaining parcels of the land.

Robert Bruce Wright married Sarilla Mae
Winkler in 1 94 1 and had three children: Nan-
cy Carolyn, Ruth Elaine, and Janice Marie.
Bruce, now retired from being an owner of a
hosiery mill in the local area, still has many
beef cattle and does some vegetable farming.

The name Wright has a long history in the
Cid-Silver Valley area of Davidson County
beginning with Richard Wright Sr. of the
1700s and ending with his descendants.
Thomas Wright, one of Richard's descen-
dants, lived in the Cid-Silver Valley area.
Land that Thomas attained in 1875 still
remains in the hands of his grandchildren and
great-grandchildren. Submitted by Bruce Wright

Davie County

THE BAILEY-RATLEDGE FARM

The Bailey-Ratledge Farm was purchased
in 1 829 by Richmond Brockton Bailey ( 1 809-
1 89 1 ). At that time the house was a traditional
log cabin. The original log cabin is contained
within the present structure which was added
to and changed by the five generations of
owners to accommodate their needs and

The Ratledge farm in Davie County. The original
log cabin, contained within this existing structure,
was built in the early 1800s.

tastes. The largest addition was made in 1 878
by Caspar Giles Bailey (1845-1920) who
inherited it from his father.

A niece, Bettie Ann (Bailey) Ratledge
(1873-1929), inherited the property from
Caspar Bailey. She was married to James H.
Ratledge (1871-1933). Their son, Ralph
Caspar Ratledge (1901-1988), inherited the
property in 1933. He and his wife, Gladys
Mae (Thompson) Ratledge, gave the property
to their two children, James Lowe Ratledge
and Bettie Sue Ratledge Rix in 1 985. They are
the present owners.

The Bailey-Ratledge farm originally con-
tained approximately 122 acres; it now con-
tains approximately 75 acres. Over the years
the major crops have been corn, wheat, tobac-
co and cotton.

Before electricity was installed in 1 935, the
house had an installed carbide lighting sys-
tem. The in-ground carbide tank remains. A
dairy farm operated efficiently before elec-
tricity because the milk could be kept cool in
a spring house which still stands. The water
remains approximately 53 degrees year long.
Water was pumped to the house by a gasoline
engine. The spring is still the source of elec-
tricity pumped water.

Only five of the twelve supporting build-
ings remain. The "old kitchen," which was
separated from the main house remains as a
storage room and is now connected to the
house by a carport.

The land is still being farmed by a tenant.

Submitted by James L. Ratledge

THE CHARLES FARM

The Charles farm is located in the Jerusa-
lem Township in Davie County on the waters
of the Yadkin River and Reedy Branch.

The Charles home in Mocksville, N.C.

This land was first owned by Sarah Crump
before the year 1 873. James A. Crump inher-
ited this land at her death. On March 28,
1897, James A. Crump and Bettie Crump
deeded this land to John C. Charles and wife,
Sallie Crump. Charles John and Sallie built a
house on this farm and raised seven children.

John C. Charles and son, James, farmed the
land until 1 9 1 7. At this time John and family
moved to Mt. Airy and left James to farm.

James raised small grain and tended the
land with machinery. John moved his family
back in 1 92 1 . He went into business at Greasy
Corner, operating a cotton gin and left the
farming up to James.

Around 1950, John deeded the farm to
James to pay him for his labor. James handed
the deed back to his mother, Sallie, and told
her to keep it and he and dad would go on as

82

usual. James farmed the land as long as he was
able and then rented the land for farming.

At James' death, he left the land to be divid-
ed between his three older sisters. The three
younger sisters sued him for a share of the
land. They lost the lawsuit.

At James' death in 1 970, Mary with no chil-
dren and Marguerite with two sons were dead.
Louise inherited the land. Louise paid Mar-
guerite's sons for her part of the land. When
the deed for Louise Charles Campbell was
drawn up in 1972, she had a deed drawn for
her daughter, Mary Louise, and husband,
Donald H. Smith.

The farm is still being farmed for small
grain. Mary and Donald have built on the
farm and Louise has a trailer close by. Their
sons, Erik, Jason, and Dustin use an old slave
cabin for their "cabin" when camping with
the guys. It is hoped one or all of the three will
continue farming.

Submitted by Donald H. Smith

THE ETCHISON FARM

Everett Frost Etchison's farm has its roots
in 1762-1784 land grants along Dutchman
Creek, to the Bryans, Railsbacks and Poores.
Thomas Furches bought part of these lands.
When his daughter married Orrell Etchison in
1852, he gave the choice of "slaves or land."
She chose the land.

Everett Frost Etchison.

Orrell and Louisa built their house on a hill
which overlooked the Bryans on the north
and historic Rocky Ford eastward. Daughter,
Susan, acquired the "Bryan place" 1879; her
brother John later bought and farmed it.

Orrell died in 1 882. His son, John, married
Nana Cain 1897. They lived with Louisa at
Valley View Farm. Their children were born
there. When Louisa died, 191 1, John secured
the home, debt and 1 25 acres. He introduced
the First purebred livestock and was among
the first to convert from oxen and water pow-
er to steampower for mill and farm.

John died in 1936. His son Everett had
made, at 32, two major decisions: to stay with
the land, "I was determined I would pay off

Davie

that debt — and to marry the teacher Lola
Sofley." He was ever true to his vows. When
he acquired John's 58 acres they built their
home on its historic corner and raised and
educated their children. When John's broth-
er, Lewis, died in 1940, Everett and Lola
bought his inherited 48 acres.

Everett and young son, John, continued
reclamation and land improvement. Cotton
and tobacco gave way to progressive program
of dairy farming. In the 1970s Everett fenced
his Fields and converted to beef cattle. By then
the debt was paid, Lola had retired and the
land was free at last.

Everett's children and grandchildren live
close to him — in every respect. Now, he and
his grandson plow the fields, mow the mead-
ows and repair the machinery of mill and
farm. Both daughters and granddaughters
assist in harvests. Proud of their heritage, they
will preserve the integrity of their century
farm into the 21st century.

Submitted by Annie Laurie Etchison

Note: Annie Laurie Etchison, who submit-
ted this article, was killed in a jeep accident on
this same Etchison Farm since she submitted
this article. Miss Etchison, aged 80, and her
brother, Everett Frost Etchison, aged 84, were
fixing a fence. She died in October 1988.

Betty Etchison West

THE FROST FARM

The land for this farm was acquired by Wil-
liam Frost in 1774. Two tracts (#3491 and
#3492), which were part of the original Lord
Granville Grant, were purchased from the
state of North Carolina.

Copies of Rowan County deeds indicate
that William Frost transferred this land to his
son Ebenezer Frost who deeded it to his son,
Isaac Newton Frost, of Rowan County.

In 1836, Davie County was formed from
Rowan County. In 1872, Isaac Newton Frost
transferred the land to his four living chil-
dren, one of whom was Elizabeth Amy Frost
Cain.

In 1926, Elizabeth Amy Frost Cain willed
her land to her seven living children, one of
whom was John Boyce Cain, Sr. During the
span of two wars and a great depression, John
Boyce Cain, Sr. purchased his brothers' and
sisters' interests in the land.

At his death, John Boyce Cain, Sr.'s six liv-
ing children divided the land into six tracts:
Tract #1 to Gladys Naylor Cain Pulliam, 27
acres; Tract #2 to John Boyce Cain, Jr., 27
acres; Tract #3 to Margaret Faye Cain Rich
(who also purchased the house and three sur-
rounding acres), 30 acres; Tract #4 to Mabel
Joyce Cain Benton, 42 acres; Tract #5 to
Lucille Elizabeth Cain Hartman, 42 acres;
Tract #6 to Eleanor Gray Cain Blackmore, 7 1
acres.

John Boyce Cain, Sr. was devoted to the
North Carolina Department of Agriculture's
methods — such as terracing the hills, plant-
ing ground covers, and caring for the soil with
crop rotation. He grew grains, cotton, tobacco
and hay for his animals. As dairy cows
became a source of income, he built a nice
herd of Jersey and mixed breed cows. He
operated the cream separator and milked the
cows by hand, and sold cream and milk. He
was always very concerned for his animals'
welfare and became a self-taught veterinarian
for himself and for his neighbors.

In the early days, the farm work was done
by horses. Finally in the 1 930s the great Ford-
son tractor and the first truck became avail-
able to him.

Even though John Boyce Cain, Sr. bought
some land, it was very hard for him to make a
living for his family in the fields because so
much had to be spent for "hired help." He was
not the most successful farmer in the area, but
no one worked more diligently to carry on the
family tradition. And no one cared more for
the land than he did.

Today the house (built in 1926), the coun-
try store (built in 1 885) and two outbuildings
still stand. Most of the land is now field and
forest, but a lovely rolling lawn, fragrant flow-
er gardens and a half-acre vegetable garden
are tended by Faye Cain Rich and her hus-
band Fred. Submitted by Faye Cain Rich

THE GLASSCOCK FARM

Between the years 1765 and 1775, Peter
Glasscock and his second wife Elizabeth
Madden, with their children, came from Far-
quar County, Virginia to North Carolina to
make their home. They received a land grant
from Lord Carterette for about 500 acres of
land. This land was in what is now Calahan
Township in Davie County, on the north side

John Boyce Cain (in overalls) and Wade B. Smoot (in dark hat) at days end, walking the horses, Dolly (grey),
Nell (grey) and Tony (bay) towards the corn crib. Picture is circa 1920.

83

of Ijames Church Road, along the banks of
Bear Creek. Two of Peter Glasscock's cous-
ins, Charlotte and Gregory Glasscock, built a
dam across the creek and erected a sawmill
and gristmill powered by water.

In the division of Peter Glasscock's estate,
the 500 acre grant went to one of his boys,
James Glasscock, and his wife, Sallie Booe,
the daughter of Jacob Booe, who lives east of
Mocksville in the Dulin Church community.

The James Glasscock family lived in about
the middle of the land. They were brandy
makers and gold miners. Many of the gold
mines are still visible. They were parents of
five boys and four girls. One of the boys,
Thomas N.B. Glasscock is my grandfather.
My father, James L. Glasscock, built his
house on the south side of the land grant. I am
the youngest of three girls and three boys born
to the James L. Glasscock family. As a young
boy, I played in the creek where the dam had
all washed out except the mud sill and ends of
planks under water. Many of the churches in
the community used the place to baptize their
members. The mud sill was pulled out of the
creek about 20 years ago. It appeared to be as
sound as it was 200 years back when it was put
in, but in six months, it was only a mound of
dust. Submitted by M.E. Glasscock, Sr.

THE MILLER FARM

Luther Miller and Mary Miller, my grand-
father and mother, bought half of the place I
own in 1 872 from the Van Eatons on Septem-
ber 14. He bought the other half that I own
from the N.B. Brock estate on August 31,
1876.

There was an old house on the Van Eaton
land where they lived until death. He died in
1880; she in 1901. Five boys and four girls
were born to this union.

There were 387 acres, and my father, Lon-
nie L. Miller inherited and bought a total of
204 acres of which my brother, J. Vernon, and
I inherited and bought. Vernon operated a
dairy farm until retiring in 1 969. L. Gene Mil-
ler continues the farming. In 1 969 my oldest
son, Lonnie Gene, Jr., joined in the operation
of "Gemini Branch Dairy Farm." Later in
1 984, a younger son, Patrick Carson, returned
to the farm to assist. It was necessary to
increase production to be able to continue
farming. Additional acreage was obtained in
the area and the availability of leasing land
has added to the operations.

When I retire in 1989, the plans are for a
third son, Michael Anthony, to join his broth-
ers, with an already partly established dairy
herd, to increase and continue the farming
operations of the Miller Farm.

Submitted by L. Gene Miller

THE MILLER FARM

George Jacob Miller was born in Germany
on August 23, 1748. He came to America
before the Revolutionary War. He had 13
brothers and sisters. He married Maria
Agness Sawer, born in Pennsylvania on
March 14, 1780. After the war they raised a
large family on a farm in Cabarrus County. At
the time of his death he willed his farm to
Mathias Miller, his youngest child and fifth
son. Jacob Miller's farm was a grant from the
state of North Carolina of 420 acres.

Davie

The original house that Mathias Miller built. John
Albert Miller, Sr. and his wife and six of their nine
children are pictured.

Mathias Miller, born in Cabarrus County
on September 25, 1807, married Catherine
Fagget. His mother, Maria Agness, died in
1829 two years before he was married. He
continued living with his father until his
father's death August 10, 1840. He sold his
father's farm and came to Davie County in
1857. The 1 860 census for Davie County lists
his family as 1 1 children (four daughters and
seven sons). Out of the 1 1 children, only three
were living at his death. Julia Christina, John
Albert and Elijah were living. Julia Christina
was never married. John Albert was married
January 3, 1 900 to Lillie Belle Thompson. He
and his sister, Julia, continued to live with
their father until his death.

In 1874 Mathias Miller deeded several
acres of land to the Lutheran Church. The
original structure still stands over 100 years
old. Also, he deeded several acres of land for
a school.

Much like his father before him, he gave
each child a plantation when they married.
He left the homeplace to his daughter, Julia
Christina. In turn she willed the farm to her
two nephews, Daniel Boone and John Albert,
Jr. Miller. At that time the farm was divided.
John Albert, Jr. was deeded a tract of land
near the homeplace, a total of 500 acres in the
entire farm.

In 1900, John Albert, Sr. married Lillie
Thompson. They lived at the homeplace with
Julia. They had nine children (seven girls and
two sons). At the time of John Albert Sr.'s
death in November, 1 924 the girls were in col-
lege. John Albert, Jr., the youngest child, had
married and was at home. Daniel Boone was
in school in Nashville, Tennessee when he
received a diploma in 1928. His mother and
aging aunt asked him to come back to the farm
to manage the cattle and tenants. Daniel mar-
ried Veola Smith on September 16, 1933.
They moved into a tenant house near the
homeplace. They had three children; a daugh-
ter, Gloria Rose, and two sons, Daniel Boone,
Jr. and Mathias Smith. He looked after the
farm and started buying and raising cows,
first selling cream to a nearby creamery. Soon
Daniel got an electric power line in the com-
munity — a big help toward an A-grade dairy.
He and a neighbor persuaded an A-grade
route truck to come into the community. He
built his herd with registered Holsteins,
milked in a modern building with all modern
equipment. Due to bad health, he sold the
dairy cows in 1972 and continued with beef
cattle. He died in 1 977, willing the farm to his
wife, Veola S. Miller.

Due to two years of bad weather, the beef
cattle have been reduced, but Veola plans to
keep some beef.

Veola S. Miller is living on the farm and
with family help, has been able to keep the
farm going. Submitted by Veola S. Miller

THE MILLER FARM

The farm of Vernon and Florence Miller
lies in the Farmington Township of Davie
County. Tradition says that on this property
stood the cabin of Joseph Bryan whose daugh-
ter, Rebecca, married the frontiersman, Dan-
iel Boone. This farm of 108 acres has been in
the Miller family since purchased by Ver-
non's grandfather, Luther. Luther Leonidas
Miller purchased land in 1853, 1874 and
1876 to form his farm of 656 acres.

Joseph Vernon and Florence Miller, October, 1986.

Luther raised wheat and the farm pros-
pered, but he died in 1 880 leaving the proper-
ty to his wife, Mary Taylor Miller. Later the
land was divided between the seven children.

One of these, Leonidas Lee (Lonnie), father
of Vernon, purchased three shares to add to
his and owned 266 acres by 1897. He raised
wheat and livestock, including mules, cattle,
sheep and registered swine. Being a progres-
sive farmer, Lonnie purchased his first tractor
in 1919. Farm production increased and a
Guernsey dairy herd was established. He
began selling Grade A milk to Forsyth Dairy
and his farm had the first terraced fields in j
Davie County. Farm workers were sharecrop-
pers in the early years and then day laborers
until 1950 when the farm was fully media- s
nized. In 1935, electricity brought milking;
machines as well as other benefits. During
World War II, the herd was changed to Hol-
stein and milk was sold to Farmers Coopera-
tive Dairy where Vernon served on the Board
of Directors for 26 years.

In 1952, Vernon began business on his
share of the farm. Lonnie, being 82 years old, !
had divided the farm between two sons. Ver-
non soon doubled production of his dairy
farm and made many other improvements.
He retired in 1969 and rents his land to his
brother. Vernon and Florence have two chil-
dren: Martha, a retired teacher and Bayne, a
veterinarian. Since retirement, Vernon and
Florence have been active in the National
Campers and Hikers Association and have
traveled extensively with their many friends.
They celebrated their 62nd wedding anniver- '
sary in December 1988 and continue to be
active in their church and community.

Submitted by J. Vernon Miller

84

THE SEAFORD FARM

This farm is in Calahaln Township, and it
is part of the 1 54 acre tract farm bought by my
great-grandfather, Simeon Seaford, and wife,
Eliza Smith Seaford in 1849. The farm is off
U.S. Highway 64 in the Center community.

The farm was deeded to my grandfather by
his parents in 1879, and my grandfather was
married to Alice McDaniel in 1881. The tract
we have is a part of the share my father, Wil-
liam Maxie Seaford, who married Mary Ever-
hardt, received. My father died in 1950 and
my mother is still living. I am married to the
former Pearline Beck.

Simeon and Eliza built a full two-story log
house out of forest pines in the 1850s. The
house is still standing and is in fair condition.
It is used as an outbuilding. The house and
kitchen were built separately, and the kitchen
was one story. The kitchen is no longer stand-
ing. The house had one huge fireplace for heat
and the kitchen chimney was built for cooking
over the fire and had a pot rack in it. The
house was originally covered with wood shin-
gles, which were replaced by a standing seam
metal roof which is still on the house. The
ends and back side of the house have weather
boarding over the logs, but the front does not.
The logs are exposed on the inside. The metal
roof was put on in 1915.

The farm is in pasture and we raise feeder
calves for the feeder calf market.

Submitted by William M. Seaford

THE TATUM FARM

The Tatum farm homeplace is located on
the South Yadkin River in Davie County.
The farm is four miles above the fork of the
North Yadkin and South Yadkin Rivers, two
miles downstream from Cooleemee.

E.C. "Zeke" and Katherine Tatum training their
grandson to continue the farming tradition.

The Tatums were among the early settlers
in America, landing at Charlestowne, Virgin-
ia in 1620. Ancestors then lived in Virginia
until George Tatum (17 -1801) sold 1 3 1
acres of land in 1 78 5 and brought his family to
the forks of the Yadkin.

Ezra Washington Tatum (1817-1895),
grandson of George, purchased 320.5 acres
and the historic Ford-Tatum home in 1854.
Ezra bought 80 adjoining acres in 1865.
Albert Ezra Tatum (1861-1 940), son of Ezra,
and his son, Ezra Carl Tatum, Sr. ( 1 898- 1959)
and wife, Jamie Mauney Tatum (1898-1 969)
were subsequent owners.

The present owners and residents are Ezra
Carl Tatum, Jr. and wife, Katherine Feezor

Davie — Duplin

Tatum, and Ezra Carl Tatum, III, and wife,
Tina Bost Tatum.

After operating as a crop and livestock
farm, 90 acres of crop land was planted in lob-
lolly pines in 1960. Eight acres of white pine
Christmas trees were planted in 1962. The
dairy herd was sold in 1 964 and approximate-
ly 20 acres of Christmas trees were planted
annually until 100 acres were growing. The
total acreage in planted loblolly pines is over
225 acres.

The Tatums started selling Christmas trees
both choose and cut and wholesale in 1971.
Being one of the first Christmas tree farms to
offer a big selection of trees, Tatum farms has
a lot of activity in the month of December.
Katy and her husband, Bob Crews, help her
parents and brother during busy periods.
Robert, 1 Vi year old son of Katy and Bob, also
enjoys the Christmas tree sales.

Submitted by E.C. Tatum, Jr.

THE WOODRUFF FARM

Since the early 1850s four generations of
Woodruffs have been land owners in Davie
County — the tract of land running along
Milling Road.

The Woodruff farmhouse in Davie County.

John Issac Woodruff came to Davie Coun-
ty from Yadkin County. He housed his wife
and three children in a log cabin, which was
already on the property, until the plantation
house could be constructed. Timber was cut
from the land and his slaves made the brick to
erect the Greek Revival style farmhouse, con-
sisting of eight rooms, two large halls with a
handsome stairway leading to the second
floor. There was a separate brick kitchen, ice
house, carriage house, cotton house, grainery,
and a log corn crib (still standing). This was a
self-sustaining plantation. The main crops
were tobacco, cotton, wheat and corn. John I.
and his wife, Amelia Martin, lived there until
their deaths.

The farm descended to their son, Sanford
A. Woodruff, and his wife, Janie Gaither.
They continued the same line of general farm-
ing. Their eldest son Charles Gaither Wood-
ruff remained at the farm with his father.
They operated with the help of sharecroppers
housed on the land. They added cattle, sheep
and sold an abundance of wool.

Charles G. and his wife, Ella McMahan,
moved their family to Mocksville in 1911.
Charles remained active in the farm opera-
tion. His eldest son, Tom, and wife, Sarah
Charles, returned to the farm in 1 928 to assist
the grandfather. The same year Sanford A.
met an untimely death when a large hay fork
fell from the loft and killed him.

The farm descended to Charles Gaither
Woodruff. Around 1930, a dairy operation
was started and continued until 1945. Vari-
ous members of this family owned the land
jointly for short intervals.

Today, the 2 1 6 acres (Ella-Wood Farms) is
owned by Charles W. Woodruff, Sr. (youngest
son of Charles G.) and his wife, Christine
Hendricks. The land is leased out. Their son,
Charles, Jr., has two riding horses on the
property with temporary living quarters in
the house. Submitted by Charles W. Woodruff

Duplin County

THE BENNETT FARM

It is recorded at the Duplin County Court-
house that Theophilus Barfield's heirs sold
their slaves to purchase the land that is pres-
ently known as the Bennett farm. The story
has been handed down through several gener-
ations that the Barfield Plantation owned a
number of slaves. Realizing that slaves were
soon to receive their freedom, the Barfields
sold their slaves and used that money to pur-
chase land.

1886, Bennett homestead.

The land that they purchased is located in
the southwest corner of Duplin County. This
land extends into the edges of both Wayne
and Sampson counties.

Theophilus Barfield, the original owner of
this land, married in 1811. He and his wife
had eight sons and four daughters. The con-
nection between the Barfields and the Ben-
netts enters into the history of the farm at this
point. Mary Barfield married Sebron Ben-
nett. As the children married, the farm land
was divided. Mordecai Rufus Bennett was the
only son of Mary and Sebron Bennett. He had
inherited the land that is in the northwest cor-
ner of Duplin County, two miles west of
Calypso. This land extends into Wayne Coun-
ty four miles southwest of Mount Olive on the
old Faison-Wilmington Road known as Ben-
nett Road 1308.

Mordecai Rufus Bennett, II has one daugh-
ter, Linda B. Game, and two sons, Mordecai
Rufus Bennett, III and Gordon Eugene Ben-
nett. They are presently the owners of the
farm, which consists of 600 acres. The old
family cemetery is also located on this tract of
land.

The homestead was built by Mordecai
Rufus Bennett in 1886. In 1904 ten rooms
were added on the original three rooms. The
house remains the same today except for
minor changes that have been made on the
inside of the house. It is presently occupied by

85

Mr. and Mrs. M.R. Bennett, Jr. We hope to
have the home and the farm in the Bennett
family for years to come.

Submitted by M.R. Bennett, Jr.

THE BLACKMORE FARM

In 1 860 a parcel of land was sold to Romu-
lus Blackmore which would form the nucleus
of the Blackmore land holdings in Duplin
county. This land had formerly been owned
by Herrold Blackmore, but had been sold at
public auction during bankruptcy proceed-
ings in 1843-44.

Since 1860 other lands were added to the
original 78 acres and several generations of
Blackmores have continuously lived on the
property.

Frank Blackmore, son of Herrold Black-
more, had two sons, Went and W.R., both of
whom lived on the farm and were actively
engaged in farming. Went never married. Of
the children of W.R. Blackmore, the youngest
son, Robert, became the farmer and lived on
the property until his death in 1974.

These years were eventful and challenging.
Tractors replaced mules and fewer tenants
were needed to cultivate the lands. Diversity
became a necessity for survival. Although
tobacco remained the vital cash crop, Robert
introduced cattle and swine production,
small grain and pickling cucumber cultiva-
tion to the total farm program.

Ruby Blackmore, widow of Robert, contin-
ues to live on the family farm. A nephew,
John, grandson of W.R. Blackmore, also lives
on Blackmore property, but is not engaged in
farming.

Although no Blackmore is actively engaged
in farming, the lands are successfully man-
aged; the main cash crops are tobacco, corn
and soybeans. Proper procedures are being
carried out to ensure the preservation of the
land for the descendants of the Blackmore
family.

A note of current interest is that a section of
the new Interstate Highway 40 from Wil-
mington to Raleigh passes across a portion of
Blackmore land. Surely the ancestors never
dreamed that such a structure would ever
become a necessity to accommodate com-
merce and travel from the east to the west.

Submitted by Ruby M. Blackmore

THE BLAND FARM

Theodore Cyrus Bland lived on this land all
of his life. It became his at his father's death in
1944. He had traced his family line to
England and was very proud of his heritage.
The James Bland land has been divided into

Ciscelia Bland Greer, daughter of Theodore Cyrus
Bland, in front of her house, built in 1856. This pic-
ture was taken in 1958.

Duplin

small farms. Ours is the original plot that was
settled in the 17 homesteads on Bull Tail
Creek. At his father's death, Theodore
became owner and lived and raised three chil-
dren (two boys and one girl). Theodore lived
on this land all of his life and left it to his chil-
dren, Ciscelia Bland Greer who lives in Gar-
ner; Ira Thomas Bland who lives in Gastonia;
and Theodore Douglas Bland who lives in
Wrightsville Beach. His wife, Mary Jane
Bland, has a life estate and lives on this farm
now.

Mary Jane is living in a house they built in
1 965 which is in front of the old house built in
1856. It is the fourth one built on this farm,
one in front of the other.

The Blands farmed this land for 48 years.
Tobacco, corn, soybeans, garden and truck
crops were grown.

They raised three children and educated
them. One daughter worked for the State; one
son is a superintendent in construction; and
the youngest son is a pharmacist. They are
very proud of their heritage.

Theodore Cyrus Bland was 75 when his
father died at the age of 92. He had an uncle 99
and Aunt Blands, one 98 and one 99. There
were eight children born on this land in the
1 800s — five boys and three girls. Submitted
by Mary Jane Bland

THE BRICE FARM

The Brice farm is located in Duplin Coun-
ty, four and one half miles west of Rose Hill.
It is now owned by a daughter of the fourth
generation, Kathleen Brice Fisler, youngest of
ten children.

The original home of Joseph Brice (1769-
1829), son, William B. Brice (1819-1902),
and son, Charlie J. Brice (1868-1959), was
destroyed by a tornado May 1 1, 1924. The
home was rebuilt and on August 17, 1957 and
destroyed by fire on Charles J. Brice's 90th
birthday.

In the early 1 800s the farm produced rice in
the lowland near Rockfish Creek and cotton
around the house.

For years corn was grown for cornmeal,
which was ground at the nearby Newkirk
Water Mill. Corn was also grown to feed the
livestock. Potatoes were a primary product. It
was a food source. Ribbon cane was grown on
the farm and cooked for syrup.

Charlie J. Brice family, Rose Hill, N.C

As for the livestock, cattle, hogs and sheep
were raised on the farm. The sheep were
sheared and the wool sold for a profit. Yard
chickens could be readily seen around the
house. A team of mules were kept on the farm
as they were necessary for field work. Fox
hounds were a pride for Charlie J. Brice to
show and hunt.

William F. Brice, son of Charlie J. Brice,
was the last farm manager. He took over the
farm after serving in World War I. There was
quite a herd of cattle and he sold many of
them to pay the taxes. At his death the farm
produced tobacco, corn, soybeans, strawber-
ries and watermelon.

Today the farm is owned by Kathleen B.
Fisler. Virgin timber was cut and 46 acres
were reset in the early 1970s. Corn and soy-
beans are grown. The old smokehouse is the
only original building left standing.

For generations to come the farm should
prove to be a mark of cultural heritage.

Submitted by Mrs. Harry T. (Kathleen) Fisler

THE CAVENAUGH FARM

In the mid 1 800s, this farm was owned and
operated by David Wright Cavenaugh and his
wife Charity Williams Cavenaugh. Corn and
hogs were the major products produced on
this farm. The farm consisted of approxi-
mately 1 00 acres. On the farm was a log house
built by David Cavenaugh and a stable and
packhouse combined. Across the road from
the house was the Paisley Post Office. David
and Charity had eight children. Jacob, born in
1863, was the youngest son and came into
possession of the farm.

The Cavenaugh farm, Wallace, N.C.

Jacob Edwards Cavenaugh and his wife,
Mutie Dail Cavenaugh, operated the farm
and lived in the same house that his father
built. Jacob produced corn, hogs and the first
tobacco in that area. Tobacco was cropped off
the stalk and carried out of the field in aprons
to keep it from bruising. Jacob also produced
honey and operated a gristmill and a cotton
gin on the farm. Jacob and Mutie had four
children: Offie, Beulah, Herder and Raeford.
Each inherited equal shares of the farm. Offie
added to his share by buying part of Beulah's.
Offie ended up with approximately 30 acres
of the original farm.

Offie Americas Cavenaugh, his wife, Brun-
nie Batts Cavenaugh, and their three sons,
Thomas, Earl and Ottis, lived away from the
farm until the 1920s. Brunnie and the youn-
gest son, Ottis, both died in the late 1920s.
After Brunnie's death, Offie and the sons
moved back to the farm into the original
house with Offie's parents. At this time, the
farm produced honey (50-75 hives), corn, cot-
ton, tobacco, cows and hogs. Offie's brother,
Raeford, remodeled an old house on his share
and Offie built a house on his share. These
two houses are still on the farm.

Offie's farm is now owned and operated by
his son, Thomas Allen Cavenaugh and his
wife, Marguerite Teachey Cavenaugh. They
have three children: Judy, Larry and Nathan.
The farm produces corn, soybeans, tobacco
and chickens. The farm has a house (built by
Offie), a packhouse, several shelters and out-
buildings, two poultry houses and two grain
bins. Submitted by O. Cavenaugh

THE GARNER FARM

Nine miles east of Mt. Olive in the Gar-
ner's Chapel Community, eight generations
of Garners have lived. In 1978, Needham
Garner of Dobbs County (in 1 760 in North-
hampton County) bought land on the south
side of the Northeast Cape Fear River in
Duplin County. His family and his married
son, Simeon, with wife Rachel, and son
Nathan moved here. Simeon bought nearby
land in 1 800 and he was then already a Duplin
resident.

Daniel Herring Garner (left) and Varner Rayford
Gamer.

Nathan had acquired both original tracts by
1813 and continued to buy land. Tradition is
that Nathan had rice fields near the river. He
also had a grainmill. By 1 860 (census) he had
7,700 acres in Duplin County. Some of this
was wife Penelope Kornegay's inherited
tracts in other areas. When this Garner land
was divided in 1861 among their ten children,
it was laid off in strips reaching from the
Northeast River southward about a mile and

Duplin

a half. The public road was moved about a
mile south of the river. The farm is on the
south side of this road.

Basil Garner, son of Nathan, reared his
family about five miles from his Garner land
on his wife Julia Ann Herring's inherited
tract. This couple also acquired more land
which was lost when Basil had to forfeit a
neighbor's bond. Basil's son, Daniel Herring
Garner, and his wife, Octavia Dail, redeemed
that farm and distributed it to Basil's chil-
dren. In 1874, D.H. arranged an exchange
with his brother Simeon to come back to the
Nathan Garner land inherited by his father
Basil. He continued to buy until he had
acquired at least four of the Nathan Garner
heirs' tracts. D.H. and his son Roscoe operat-
ed a steam powered cotton gin and sawmill
here in the early 1 900s.

In 1917, Daniel Herring Garner deeded
177.6 acres of this land to Roscoe W. Garner
and wife, Nell Dickson. It is located on the
south side of Garner's Chapel Road away
from the river. This is the farm inherited by
Roscoe's son, Varner Rayford Garner, in
1957 and is the century farm. The 570 acres
on the north side of the road extending to the
Northeast River were inherited by Roscoe
Garner's sisters and were sold by heirs to Car-
olina Turkeys (largest U.S. turkey processor)
in 1985.

The century farm is still a family farm on
which corn, wheat, soybeans, and tobacco are
grown. Varner Rayford Garner died March
20, 1986, shortly after being notified about
the century farm award. The farm is now
owned by his wife, Nina Mewborn Garner,
and daughter, Nell Dixon Garner.

In 1987, Garner descendants placed a
memorial marker in the 1800-1900 cemetery
on the south side of the river honoring the first
four generations of Garners to live here. Also
a veteran stone with a DAR plaque was placed
for Needham Garner who served during the
American Revolution in the Dobbs County
Militia. Submitted by Nina Mewborn Garner

THE GRESHAM FARM

James O'Daniel purchased this farm from
Ivey Becton, January 29, 1852. It originally
contained 4 1 6 acres more or less, and sold for
$ 1 ,000. James O'Daniel was Walter V. Gresh-
am's great grandfather. The farm is located in
Duplin County on the east side of the North-
east Cape Fear River between Sarecta and
Hallsville communities.

The Hall family home on Oak Ridge farm. Rose
Hill, N.C.

James O'Daniel remained the owner of the
farm until his death in 1901. At that time it

was passed on to his children. His daughter,
Hepsey Ann O'Daniel (Hall) inherited it.
After her death in 1 922, the farm was divided
between her five nieces and nephews by her
sister, Linda Annie O'Daniel (Gresham) who
died in 1 892. Hepsey Ann O'Daniel Hall had
no children of her own, but she raised a neph-
ew: Amos Alexander Gresham. The nieces
and nephews who inherited the farm were
Amos Alexander Gresham, James Thomas
Gresham, Barbara Charlottie Gresham
(Rhodes), George Clayton Gresham, and
Margaret Adeline Gresham (Kennedy).

Walter Verneal Gresham's father was
Amos A. Gresham. His portion or share of the
farm was the old homestead portion of which
was 76 acres more or less. Amos A. Gresham
was raised by his Aunt Hepsey Hall and Uncle
Amos W. Hall. Amos A. Gresham was the
owner of this portion of the farm from 1922
until his death September 23, 1 953. Amos A.
Gresham and his wife, Janie Elizabeth Gavin
Gresham raised 12 children on this farm.

Walter Verneal Gresham, upon the death
of his father in 1953, began to buy up his
brothers and sisters shares of the farm. In
1 958, Walter V. Gresham and his wife, Joyce
Ann Maready Gresham became the owners of
the 76 acre portion that belonged to his father.
Walter V. Gresham and his wife, Joyce Ann
Maready Gresham raised two children on this
farm. They were: Wanda Gayle Gresham
Simmons and Janie Lynn Gresham Fussell.
Walter V. Gresham holds this farm dear to his
heart. He was born on this farm April 27,
1933. This has been the home of his family
since before the War Between the States.

There are two historically significant build-
ings on the farm still standing: the old home-
place and a cypress log tobacco barn. The old
corn crib is over 50 years old. The old home-
place has some portions dating back 100
years. The cypress log tobacco barn was built
in 1935. Submitted by Walter V. Gresham

THE HALL FARM

Oak Ridge Farm grew from an English land
grant to Isaac Hall in 1796. Since then, six
generations of Halls have lived there and
farmed the land.

Each of Isaac Hall's three sons and three
daughters were given parcels of land when
they came of age. One son, Lewis Hall, wanted
his land and share of inheritance early so he
could move west to Texas. After he left, how-
ever, no member of the family heard from
him or could find out about his whereabouts.

The family line of those living on the farm
today descended from Herring Hall, a Civil
War veteran.

After the war, the freed slaves were given
tracts of land, and some of their descendants
own that same land today.

In 1874 a millpond and millhouse were
built for grinding corn and wheat into meal
and flour. The miller was the descendant of a
Hall slave, Zade Hall. The millhouse is gone,
but the pond was made into a 25-acre lake
used today for recreation by family and com-
munity members.

A dairy, Oak Ridge Dairy, was started on
the farm in the early 1900s. Milk and cream
produced there were taken to the nearby town
of Rose Hill for delivery to homes there. Some
of the milk was also shipped by train to Wil-
mington and Goldsboro daily.

The Halls also operated a sawmill and a
crate factory which produced berry and other
kinds of crates.

Crops grown on the farm through the years
included corn, soybeans, potatoes, cotton,
tobacco and hay. Livestock raised there were
cattle, sheep, hogs and poultry. The grazing
livestock took up a great deal of pasture land.

Today, corn, soybeans, oats and wheat
crops are actively farmed and timber acreage
is harvested. Submitted by Rosalyle B. Hall

THE HERRING FARM

In 1819 William and Rachel Herring
bought 889 acres of land in the northwestern
corner of Duplin County. This land was given
to their son, Bryan Whitfield Herring. Circa
1 834, Bryan built a three story Greek revival
house on the land for his bride, Penelope Sim-
ms of Green County.

The old Herring house in Duplin County.

Penelope was the granddaughter of Robert
Simms who was the first sheriff of Wayne
County. Bryan Whitfield Herring was a mem-
ber of the General Assembly and served as
state senator from Duplin County during the
sessions of 1850, 1852 and 1854. Together
they had ten children who all received formal
educations.

During the Civil War their oldest son, Wil-
liam A. Herring, was elected Captain of Com-
pany G, later the 40th N.C. Confederate Regi-
ment, when it was organized in Morehead
City in 1861. The next son, Benjamin Simms
Herring, entered the U.S. Naval Academy at
Annapolis and was a commissioned officer
when the war broke out. He then entered the
naval services of the Confederacy. He was an
officer on the C.S.S. Virginia when it engaged
the Monitor in the first battle of the ironclad
ships in March of 1 862.

Their third son, Needhan Bryan Herring,
studied medicine. Robert Simms Herring, the
fourth son, was attending Franklin Academy
at Louisburg when the war started. He left
school to join the Fortieth N.C. Confederate
Coastal Artillery Regiment of which his older
brother was captain. Robert became the
fourth sergeant of the company. Later he was
third assistant engineer and served as block-
ade runner out of the port of Wilmington. The
other male children were too young for mili-
tary duty.

When Sherman's army marched through
North Carolina, some of them camped on the
plantation and the officers used the Herring
house as headquarters. Although they took
the families supply of food, the house was not
burned, and it still stands today.

Duplin

About 1 70 acres of the original plantation
and the house are owned by Patricia Johnson
Denise who is a great great granddaughter of
Bryan and Penelope Herring.

Submitted by Patricia J. Denise

THE KILPATRICK FARM

It has been told time and time again about
the three young brothers who left their home
in Ireland and sailed to the United States. The
brothers then traveled to North Carolina
where one brother settled in Sampson Coun-
ty, one in Lenoir County, and the third here in
Duplin County in the early 1800s. I have
talked with Kilpatricks from the other two
locations and they tell the same story about
these three brothers.

This picture was taken in 1980, five months before
David John Kilpatnck died. His wife, Eva, seven
children, two in-laws and two grandchildren are the
present owners of the Kilpatnck "Old Homeplace. "

Amos Kilpatrick was born in Lenoir Coun-
ty in 1796 and died November 21, 1870 in
Duplin County. Amos acquired a parcel of
land in the 1830s. This land was rich, fertile
land in the center of Duplin County. It was
located seven miles south of Kenansville on
Stocking Head Run, with Maxwell Creek run-
ning through the south side of the land.
Thomas Kilpatrick, Sr., son of Amos, was
born July 29, 1832 and farmed this tract of
land clearing more of it as the family grew.

Being Scotch Irish and knowing the mean-
ing of a dollar, they were able to build a little
homestead at this new site. A few years later
another house was built a short distance down
the road. A kitchen was built separate from
the living and sleeping quarters. Hurricane
Hazel destroyed both of these in 1954.

More land was cleared with the hard work
and help of all family members. They grew
tobacco, corn, beans, cotton and sweet pota-
toes. They also raised cows and hogs.

In 1869, William David Kilpatrick was
born to Thomas Kilpatrick, Sr. William mar-
ried Nancy Isabelle Cavenaugh of nearby
Chinquapin. They raised seven children on
this land referred to as the "Old Home Place."
William (Mr. Bill) worked hard and saved his
money so that when the Depression hit in
1 930, he was able to prosper. He raised hogs
to kill so that the meat could be cured and
sold. At times truck loads would be taken to
Wilson to be sold. These hogs were raised on
sweet potatoes and corn.

Mr. Bill died in 1953 and the "Old Home
Place" was left to David John, his youngest
son. David married Eva Sanderson on May

25, 1949. They also had seven children.
David, being as thrifty as his father, added to
his inheritance, increasing this acreage from
400 to 1 200 acres. David and Eva incorporat-
ed the farm in 1 972. David died in 1 980 leav-
ing Eva, their three sons and four daughters as
the stockholders in Kilpatrick Farms, Inc.
Eva remarried in 1 983 to LeMar John Ketels-
leger.

Unless something disastrous and unfore-
seen takes place, this land will continue to be
farmed by the Kilpatrick children and grand-
children. Submitted by Kilpatrick Farms, Inc.

THE MAXWELL FARM

This farm is located astride Burncoat Road
and astride the headwaters of Burncoat
Swamp. The term "Burncoat" originated
here during the Revolutionary War when a
British Redcoat officer stood too close to an
open fire while warming his posterior and the
tail of his coat caught fire. One field is
believed to have been used as an Indian camp-
site and field. Arrowheads and pottery have
been found there and it is close to a spring and
the ever-flowing waters of Burncoat Swamp.

Hugh Maxwell bought the farm in 1857,
and built a two-story house with a separate
kitchen. The house later burned and the kitch-
en became the home. The home, which had
solid wood windows until replaced by glass
windows around 1 932, was moved about 1 50
yards where it still stands. A new kitchen was
added to it. A carriage house with wood floor
was built and a new building was constructed
to house the Resaca Post Office. Hugh Max-
well became postmaster after he was par-
doned by President Andrew Johnson for
involvement in the Civil War. Another house
was added about 1916. Three of our genera-
tions were born on this farm, delivered by Dr.
J.F. Maxwell, a country doctor, who was our
great-uncle and lived a mile away.

Turpentine was a principal source of
income until the early 1 900s. It was harvested
from long leaf pine trees, poured into home-
made wooden barrels and hauled to Wilming-
ton by ox-drawn wagons. After 1914, tobacco
was the main source of income. Although the
land is a sandy loam, it produces premium
grades of tobacco and can grow anything.
Some split rail fence is still in use.

This farm is part of our national and family
heritage. It will always produce a living and
must be kept productive for future genera-
tions. Submitted by Silas J. Maxwell

THE OUTLAW FARM

Back in 1871, Louis and Susan Outlaw
bought 1 50 acres of land for $ 1 500. Most of
this land was in woods at the time of purchase.
This land was to remain in the Outlaw family
from that time to the present.

Louis and Susan had two sons and three
daughters. All three of the daughters taught
school in eastern North Carolina. The two
sons farmed the land. They grew tobacco,
corn and cotton. Louis and Susan started
married life in a two-room house, using a shed
type building for a kitchen. There were sand
floors in the building. Later on they added a
two-story house to the existing two rooms. In
a few years shade trees and a wooden fence
were a part of the yard.

Edgar and Nora Outlaw (the son of Louis
and Susan) were married in 1915. They lived
on the farm and tended the land. They had
three sons and four daughters. The three sons
are on the farm today. They grow corn, tobac-
co, soybeans, wheat and have livestock.

Eugene and Ruth Outlaw (the son of Edgar
and Nora) were married in 1 946. They are liv-
ing on this same farm. They have two sons
and a daughter. They have corn, tobacco, soy-
beans, wheat and a hog operation.

Gene and Nancy Outlaw (the son of Eugene
and Ruth) were married in 1978. They are liv-
ing on the family farm in a home built with a
lot of the old wood and beams out of the home
of Louis and Susan. The home is built in the
same style and on the same location as the
original homeplace. They have one son and a
daughter. Gene now operates a modern hog
operation on the family farm. Joshua, his son,
often helps do chores as the family continues
to keep the century farm alive.

Submitted by Eugene R. Outlaw

THE POWERS FARM

Isaac M. Powers was born to his mother,
Margaret, somewhere in Pender County on
April 4, 1 850. As customary in those days, the
last name Powers was taken from his white
masters family. Although laws prohibited it at
the time, his master taught him how to read
and keep records of the number of barrels of
tar that were produced. Isaac had a desire for
education and a desire to eventually own
property.

The old Powers home, built bv the Rev. Isaac M.
Powers in 1890.

After the War Between the States, Isaac was
put on his own. Unlike other ex-slaves, Isaac,
could read and write.

Powers began buying land, some of it for as
little as 25 cents an acre. At the height of his
ownership, he owned over 200 acres in
Duplin and Pender Counties.

Powers was also quite active in politics. He
went around the county and state and spoke
on behalf of the Republican party. While
working in politics he was called to preach. He
preached for over 50 years in churches in the
southeastern part of North Carolina.

Many stumbling blocks were placed in
Isaac's way, but he persevered. The only time
he showed any bitterness was when he spoke
about the time he bought a spot of land at an
auction and when he went to record it, they
refused him. Later his youngest son, Vent
Powers, rented a building near the spot for
over 30 years where he repaired shoes.

Isaac married Caroline Tate of Pender
County and they had 1 1 children: Jestus, Tim,

Duplin

Ed, Boke, Bertha, Sevey, and four children
who died in their youth (Mittie, Excellent,
Samuel and Daisy.)

Jestus taught school for a while, but real-
ized that since the length of the school year
was only three months he could not support
his family like this. Therefore, he farmed and
was paid for being the secretary-treasurer of
Grand United Order of Salem. He died in
1961 at the age of 87.

Tim was a preacher and was one of the best
painters in the area. He died in 1956 at age 78.

Boke farmed and sold wood for heating and
cooking. He died in 1945 at age 56.

Ed farmed and helped other people on their
farms. He died at age 78 in 1 962.

Vent repaired shoes on Boney Street and
lived until 1960, age 71.

Bertha lived in Wilmington, where she was
a respected church worker.

Sevey lived in Winston-Salem where she
taught school for over 40 years. She died in
1976 at age 82.

Isaac M. Powers built a house around 1 890
on Route 1 , Wallace, near Duplin Forks. Part
of it is still standing after being partly
destroyed while being restored. He never lost
any of his land because of taxes or mortgages.

Issac M. Powers has hundreds of descen-
dants. His descendants know that because of
the hard work and teachings of Isaac, they
were able to get an education. They also know
that hard work and honesty will have its
reward, no matter what adversity confronts
them. Submitted by H.C. Powers

THE SMITH TOWNSHIP FARM

Approximately 100 precious acres of land
in Smith Township at Rt. 2, Pink Hill is labo-
riously tended by me. (It is located in the area
that was known as Leon in the early 1 900's).

I received this land from my grandmother,
Josephine Smith Stroud, in 1962. (Her only
child, Water James Stroud, was living on a
farm he had inherited from his father).

My grandmother was the great grand-
daughter of Frederick Smith to whom the
land was granted in 1 784.

As the land was passed down from Freder-
ick to his son, Zacheus, in 1812, then on to his
son Ivey in 1 865, and then to my grandmother
Josephine in 1 898, it was divided many times
and much of it was sold. (The men married
young women late in life and had big fami-
lies). To the best of my knowledge there are
only three heirs still farming land that
belonged to the original tract.

I raise soybeans, corn and tobacco on my
farm. And situated right in the middle of one
of my biggest fields is a familiar sight on many
old farms — a cemetery. Its marble head-
stones stand majestically against the cold
wind, the scorching heat- and the torrential
rains without ever wavering, just as those bur-
ied there did.

The epitaphs, carefully chosen for each
marker, give me a glimpse of the character my
ancestors possessed. To me, the cemetery, the
epitaphs and the marble stones are a tiny link
to the past and knowing the hardships my
ancestors endured while grubbing a living
from this soil, gives me the extra stamina it
takes to hold onto what is fast becoming
extinct — the small family farm.

Submitted by Jimmy Wayne Stroud

THE STOKES FARM

The Stokes farm is located one mile north-
east of the historic town of Kenansville, off
Highway 1 1 and on State Road 1 378.

Florence S. Currie (right) and daughter. Florence C.
Taylor.

Robert J. Stokes was born in 1831. At an
early age he helped the family become self-
sustaining by tilling the soil, getting fish from
Wilmington for fertilizer, and planting and
harvesting crops that were grown during that
era. He purchased 53 acres of land. A "Deed
of Gift" from D.C. Churchwell in 1877 gave
him 22 acres. He purchased 40 acres from
J.O. Bryan in 1883.

Robert J. Stokes and his wife had one son,
James W. Stokes, and three daughters. He
gave his son 53 acres of land in 1887. When
R.J. Stokes died in 1 890, his property was left
to his wife and children. James W. Stokes was
born in 1862, and his wife was Cora
McGowen Stokes. They had one son, James
Oliver Stokes, and one daughter, Florence
McGowen Stokes.

James W. Stokes was a hard working man.
When he purchased the land from his sisters,
he acquired about 450 acres on which he grew
cotton, corn, tobacco, asparagus, potatoes,
other vegetables, grapes, fruit trees, pecan
and walnut trees. He also had cattle, hogs and
beehives.

James W. Stokes died in 1925 leaving the
property to his wife. Upon the wife's death in
1933, the property was divided between
James Oliver Stokes and Florence Stokes.
When James Oliver Stokes died in 1961, his
property was divided between his wife and
their one daughter, Dianne Stokes. His wife
sold his farm, but Florence Stokes has kept
her property, and it has been continuously
farmed. She grows corn, tobacco and soy-
beans. Florence Stokes Currie wills her farm
to her daughter, Florence Taylor, who plans
to continue to keep the farm until her death.

Submitted by Florence Currie

THE WILLIAMS FARM

In the early 1700s our first Scotch-Irish
ancestor came to America. He supposedly
landed in the Wilmington area and traveled
up to what is now Duplin County.

In 1735, Henry McCullock was granted
land in the Colonial Province of North Caro-
lina; from this grant our farm became a reality
and he was able to make land available to set-
tlers.

This farm is located on Highway 41,
approximately six miles west of Wallace.
Named Williamsdale Farms, it is noted for its

89

The Williams farm in 1897. Both the old house and
the present house are shown. Pictured are: Tommie,
Stokes, Grandma Lucinda, Ben, Minnie, James and
Dallas.

long entrance lane and lovely flowers. Cotton,
corn, grain, strawberries and tobacco were
always raised there. Enhanced by Rockfish
Creek, a good portion of the land is also used
to grow timber.

Until I came into possession, there had
always been a Williams to live on Williams-
dale Farms.

The earliest record shows that Joseph Wil-
liams was born on this farm in 1735 (second
generation). Succeeding generations are: his
son, Aaron; his son, Stephen; his daughter,
Jane; her son, Samuel Anderson (my grandfa-
ther); his son, Daniel Stokes (my father); his
daughter, Mary Lou (married Henry C. Carr);
and their daughters, Eleanor Stokes Carr
Boyd and Frances Sprunt Carr Parker who
are next heirs. Mary Lou is the seventh gener-
ation to own the farm, and the first "girl" to
own it since 1735.

After my father's death, my husband, Hen-
ry C. Carr, established a dairy using Holstein
cows. This operation ran for many years as a
most successful business to compliment the
other farming interest. The dairy was closed
in the 80s due to labor situations.

The present tenants, Mr. and Mrs. John W.
Marks, do a fine job of maintaining the 496
acres. Submitted by Mary Lou Williams Carr

Durham County

THE COLEY FARM

At the present time I am 9 1 years old, born
April 11,1 896, own and reside on six acres of
the original 1 400 acres of farmland purchased
by my grandfather, Anison Green Ferrell,
known as A.G. Ferrell in 1 937. He purchased
the land at age 2 1 and died June, 1 9 1 3 at age
97. This land, in 1837, was located in Wake
County on the northeast side of the Neuse
River. At his death, 97 acres was inherited by
my mother and his daughter, Rebecca Adilad
Ferrell. She was born May, 1852 and died
February, 1 932 at age 80. She was married to
George William Husketh, known as Genadis
Husketh. At her death I inherited 20 acres of
which I now own six acres that are located in
Durham County northeast of the Neuse River
on Shaw Road off Creek Road making the
property 138 years old. During these years the
primary agricultural products were corn,
grain and tobacco. We raised our own live-
stock and always had our own homegrown
vegetables.

Submitted by Mary Mattie Husketh Coley

Note: Mary Mattie Husketh Coley died
February 19, 1988. However, this farm still

Duplin — Durham — Edgecombe

remains in her family. Mrs. Coley deeded the
farm to Greta Coley Inscoe at her death.

Submitted by Greta Coley Insco

THE EVANS FARM

The first Evans to arrive in America was a
John Evans who was in Lane's Group, the
group after The Lost Colony. This is docu-
mented in the book "The First Colonists,
Documents on the Planting of the First
English Settlement in North America 1584-
1590."

According to the North Carolina Archives
and to some old land grants found in grand-
mother's (Martha Evans Silverthorne) trunk,
our family got a land grant in the 1 700s to the
present land that the family now occupies.
There have been nine generations to pass this
land down to the present generation. Of
course the farm is not as large as it once was
because through the years each generation
gave land to each child or sold some land.

The old house which still stands weathered
many storms and many wars. One of the most
interesting stories that was passed down to us
was one about our uncle Reuben. When he
was about 12 years old, the Civil War was
being fought. Some Yankees came through
camping near the old homeplace, taking our
good horses and leaving their tired, worn out
ones. They also took Uncle Reuben's peanuts
that he had raised. He was more upset about
his peanuts than he was about the other valu-
ables taken from the house. He was so mad
that he marched down to their camp, request-
ing to see their leader, whom he saw. He told
the leader that his men were not gentlemen,
nor were they honest because they had stolen
his peanuts. After hearing the boy's story, the
officer made his men apologize and return the
child's peanuts.

Uncle Reuben was a gentleman farmer who
farmed and took care of business. At one time
the attic was filled with his law books as well
as many other books.

Submitted by Barbara J. Simko and Edna S. Page

Edgecombe County

THE BRASWELL FARM

Douglas W. Braswell owns 68 acres in Wil-
son County that go as far back as his father's
grandfather, perhaps more than that. Doug-
las's dad, Carl Braswell, was born in 1 892. His
mother, Nancy Dawes, was willed the land by
her father, Wells Dawson.

There is an old pond site on the premises
that had the dam cut away by Douglas' grand-
father in the early 1900s as it was thought it
was the cause of "pond fever." This land is
located near Town Creek in the Tricmont
Township. Submitted by Douglas W. Braswell

THE CRISP-COBB FARM

William Spiral Crisp, born November 22,
1838, purchased this farm on February 8,
1870, from Joshua Killebrew, both being
from Edgecombe County of the state of North
Carolina for $1300.

The original farm lies on both sides of the
road from Eagles to Otters Creek and consist-
ed of 1 60 more or less acres.

William S. Crisp had 2 1 children by three
different wives. He died on March 1, 1909,
and his estate was settled on September 1 9,
1912 with over 1300 acres of farmland. Wil-
liam Crisp was a very important individual,
according to courthouse records, in which he
loaned money to local merchants and farm-
ers. He was a trustee of Edgecombe High
School located in Crisp, North Carolina, the
latter which bears his name.

The farm passed to Elizabeth Cobb, his
daughter, in 1912, who married James Gray
Cobb. Elizabeth Cobb died on December 24,
1914. The farm was held in trust for her chil-
dren by James Gray Cobb. The children
received their share in 1962 after his death
which was in 1958. William Ernest Cobb
received his share and bought his brother and
sister's share. He died on July 26, 1968, and
the farm passed to his wife, Mrs. Lucille Lewis
Cobb, who is the present owner.

The original house still stands on the prop-
erty and is owned by one of the great-
granddaughters of William S. Crisp, Mrs.

Ernestine Cobb Webb. There is only one
additional building left today which is a pack-
house in very good condition. Of the 33 acre
farm three and one-half acres are tobacco, one
and one-half acres is peanuts and twenty-two
acres are corn.

The farm is now being rented by another
great-granddaughter, Mrs. Betsy Cobb Evans
and husband Howard. Submitted by Lucy Cobb

THE GAY FARM

In 1859 Nathaniel Gay purchased land in
the western section of Edgecombe County.
Along with farming Nathaniel was an expert
cabinet and furniture maker. One of his spe-
cialties was making coffins. His daughter-in-
law, Anzie Lanie Proctor Gay, helped him
with stitching the white bleached cloth that
lined the inside.

Gay homeplace.

In the early 1850s he handcrafted a cradle
for his first born. The cradle was put together
with wooden pegs and rope. The little cradle
has been preserved and is still being used.
Melanie Ann Gay, great-great-great grand-
daughter of Nathaniel Gay slept in the little
antique cradle as an infant.

In 1 894 the land was passed on to Nathan-
iel's son, Fenner Gay and his family. Fenner
was the father of six sons and four daughters.
He taught the children to carry on the farm
work while he did other things such as being a
rural mail carrier and constable. He helped
out with the polls on election days, the polling
place being at the crossroads on the Gay land.
After Fenner's death in 1913, his wife, Anzie
Lanie Proctor Gay held onto the farm with
the help of family members. In 1919, her son,
Luther Albert Gay, returned to operate the
farm for his mother. His mother wanted to
move to town, so Luther settled in the farm
homestead.

In 1 922 Luther asked to purchase the farm-
land from his mother and family. They all
agreed for him to buy the land as he was the
only one of the ten children interested in
farming. As the years passed on, Luther
bought more land to add to the original farm.
Luther raised livestock in addition to the usu-
al farm crops. He also had a general merchan-
dise store that he operated for a number of
years. Luther's grandson, Edward Earl Gay,
operates the same store today.

Luther passed away in 1970 and left the
land to his wife Lizzie Ruth Lancaster Gay
and his three children, Edna Ruth Gay Wood,
Luther Albert Gay, Jr. and Elizabeth Lancas-
ter Gay Adams. Lizzie and Edna still reside in
the original homeplace. Albert carries on the
family farm operation. Submitted by Lizzie Gay

Edgecombe
THE LANCASTER FARM

A land grant from the King of England was
given to three brothers, Robert, Henry and
Benjamin Lancaster. This land was located in
the area of what is now known as Temperance
Hall Road in Edgecombe County.

As best as can be determined, the parcel
known as the John Lancaster place has been
passed down in the Lancaster family ever
since. It is believed Henry was the father of
Jesse Lancaster. The 1850 census lists Jesse
and Prudence Lancaster as being born 1793
and 1 800 respectively. These were the parents
of David who fathered John Calley Lancaster
who fathered Maggie who was the mother of
Walter Thomas Lancaster who was the father
of me, Dorothy Lancaster Braswell who pres-
ently owns this parcel.

Jessee, Prudence, David, John Calley and
Maggie are buried on adjacent land. There is
an old house standing on this land that seems
to have two rooms and a hall covered with a
wooden shingle roof and of course the con-
struction was pegged together. It appears
more room was added later. A portion of
brick was found in the chimney when remod-
eling that reads July 1713. There are 1 2 acres
of land in this parcel now.

Submitted by Dorothy Lancaster Braswell

THE POWELL FARM

The Century Farm of Oliver Powell is a
small tract of about 500 acres acquired by
William Powell born February 29,1810. The
census of 1790 reveals that a Daniel Powell
owned land and lived beside the Penders.
When William Powell's grandson was born
on January 3, 1861, he was named Daniel.
Further, William Powell's first wife was Sally
Johnston. After Sally died in 1864, William
married Rosa Boone (widow) and justice of
the peace L.C. Pender officiated.

William Powell acquired his land in several
purchases. In 1833 he purchased 107 acres
from Lemon Ruffin, in 1 837 he purchased 40
acres from James F. Jenkins; in 1 844 he pur-
chased 300 acres from Solomon Braswell; in
1 846 he purchased five additional acres from
Lemon Ruffin and 50 acres from Leonard
Bullock; and in 1851 he purchased two acres
from Orren Bullock. William collected and
sold turpentine from long leaf pines on the
land to pay for it.

William died May 26, 1882, and his land
was divided. One of his sons, Irwin, died of
malaria during the Civil War and left no heirs.
William's other son, Joseph, married Frances
Braswell and they had one son, Daniel, and
two daughters, Elizabeth and Josephine.
Joseph was killed in the Civil War before Wil-
liam died.

William also had two daughters, Winnifred
and Dolly, by his first marriage and two chil-
dren, Mollie and Charlotte, by his second
marriage.

When William's land was divided, Daniel
and his two sisters inherited their father's
share. Daniel later bought his two sisters'
shares. The share inherited by William's
daughter, Mollie, was sold after she died and
was purchased by the Tolston family. Richard
Tolston married Daniel's second age daugh-
ter, Claudia, and that land remains in the pos-
session of Tolston descendants of William
Powell.

William Powell's daughter, Charlotte, mar-
ried R.G. Flye but she died before William
did. When her family inherited her share of
William's land, Daniel purchased it from
them. Daniel also purchased his Aunt Winni-
fred's share which lay beside his father's
share. William's daughter, Dolly, married
Alsey Wright Proctor and they had five chil-
dren. When their estate was settled, Dolly's
daughter, Sallie Anne, and her husband, New-
some Braswell, bought Dolly's share of the
William Powell lands. Almost all of that share
is still in possession of Dolly Powell's descen-
dants — Braswells and Brakes.

Daniel married Sallie Anne Proctor and
they had nine children whom they named in
alphabetical order: Ada Belinda (Cummings),
Claudia Dorinda (Tolston), Effie Fostina
(Joyner), Gertha Hellen (Goff), Ivey Joseph,
Katie Luelnor (Harper), Marion Napoleon,
Oliver Pervis, and Queen Ruby (Goff).

After Daniel died on September 21, 1947,
his land was divided among his nine children.
Ada, Hellen, Kate, and Ruby inherited the
Braswell land which Daniel had inherited
from his mother's family. Ruby and her hus-
band, Mark Goff bought Kate's share and
Hellen and her husband, Ernest Goff, bought
Ada's share.

Claudia and Effie inherited the Flye tract
beside Claudia and Richard Tolston's pur-
chased part, and the one-half of that tract next
to their home was Claudia's and it is still in
the family. Effie later sold her share to Joe
Brake, great-grandson of Dolly Powell Proc-
tor.

Daniel's three sons, Ivey, Marion, and Oli-
ver inherited the Daniel Powell homeplace
and the land has since descended to their chil-
dren. Oliver Pervis Powell got the home with
40 acres but he died January 12, 1983, and
that tract is now owned by Oliver's two sons,
George Allen Powell and Oliver Curtis Pow-
ell. Curtis has deeded his undivided interest
to his four children, Susanna Powell Warner,
Kenneth K. Powell, Kevin S. Powell and
Sinderella Powell Davis, but he retains a life
time remainder interest to live on and use the
land.

All but about 10 acres of William Powell's
500 acres still remains in the possession of his
descendants more than 1 50 years after his
first purchase in 1833.

Submitted by O.C. Powell

THE RESICO FARM

In 1846, in his last will and testament,
Augustus Whitehead of Edgecombe County,
left his daughter, Prudence Whitehead, 313
acres of land in Edgecombe County. Pru-

The Lancaster homeplace on the Resico farm, Edge-
combe County.

91

dence was married to Jesse Lancaster. This
marriage produced four sons: William,
David. Dorsey and Robert Lancaster. In his
will, Augustus Whitehead stated that at the
death of his daughter, Prudence, the land be
divided among his four grandsons.

At the death of his mother, David Warren
Lancaster acquired what is now known as the
homeplace. This was on November 23, 1 869.

In 1 898. at the death of David Warren Lan-
caster, the homeplace was passed on to James
Wiley Lancaster, his son.

James Wiley Lancaster and his wife had
five daughters: Pearl, Lizzie, Josie Ophelia,
Adelia and Celia Gray. At his death in 1927,
the homeplace was inherited by Celia Gray
Lancaster Lanier, the youngest daughter.
Celia Gray was married to Joe Selma Lanier.
In 1960 at the death of Celia Gray, Joe Selma
Lamer became owner of the farm.

In 1 966. at the death of Joe S. Lanier, Irma
Lanier Resico, daughter of Joe S. and Celia
Gray Lanier, became heir to the farm. She is
now the present owner.

This farm has been engaged in farming con-
tinuously, since and before the death of
Augustus Whitehead.

Submitted by Irma L. Resico

THE SIMMONS FARM

This farm and homeplace came into the
Weaver family in 1 876 and since that time has
produced tobacco, cotton, and corn.

Edgecombe

v sot * C

The homeplace of the Weavers. It came into the
Weaver family in 1876. The house was originally
two rooms across the front with a shingle roof.

The homeplace and smokehouse date back
to around 1 876 or before. The house was orgi-
nally two rooms across the front with a wood
shingle roof. It also has sills that were hewed
with an ax and pegged together.

A family history of the Weaver and Gay
book dated 1 769-1988 can be seen in the Wil-
son, Tarboro, and Rocky Mount libraries.

Submitted by D.O. Simmons

THE TAYLOR FARM

Records show Daniel R. Taylor, seventh
generation Taylor, owns a 190 acre farm in
Edgecombe County inherited in 1916 from
his father, William A. Taylor, Jr. The farm is
part of a land grant from the Earl of Granville
to Joseph Taylor, first generation.

After the death of Daniel's father, he was
age nine, moved off the farm to live with his
legal guardian, M.O. Blount of Bethel, North
Carolina. His mother died earlier and he had
no living brothers or sisters. During his early
school years he performed various types of
work on the farm as well as in the store. He

T- * J* » A

Quilt made by Daniel Taylor's mother in 1903.

also helped to construct the Methodist
Church.

Daniel graduated from USMC, West Point,
New York in 1930 and he served in the U.S.
Army until 1951. He retired with a partial
physical disability. During World War II,
Daniel was a 5th Division Supply Officer
serving in Iceland, England, Northern Ireland
and with Patton's Third Army throughout the
war.

After retirement, Daniel became his own
farm operator. In 1 93 1 , he married Effie Mae
Winslow of Greenville, North Carolina. They
have three daughters, one son and ten grand-
children.

The only historic building left is one small
eight-by-eight corn crib with hand-hewn
sleepers. The family home burned, and other
buildings have deteriorated. A trunk was
saved, containing quilts made by his mother
as well as his father's handbag containing
farm records and other artifacts.

In the Civil War, Uncle Kenneth Taylor
was a member of General Stonewall Jackson's
bodyguard. When returning to camp at Chan-
cellorsville, Virginia, the party was fired on by
mistake, and Jackson, Kenneth and others
were killed.

Daniel's grandmother and a few others
took a wagon to Chancellorsville to return her
son's body so it could be buried in the farm
family plot. \ Submitted by Daniel R. Taylor

THE THOMAS FARM

Present owners of the Thomas Farm in
Edgecombe County not only share ownership
of land, but also share a wedding date one
hundred years apart!

A tobacco field on the Thomas farm in Edgecombe
County.

Oscar Bennett Porter, Jr. (1924- ) married
Joyce Evelyn Thomas (1927- ) on September

7, 1 947. Elisha Thomas (1818-1891) married
Martha Susan Ruffin (1827-1908) on Sep-
tember 7, 1847.

Today, great-great grandson, Thomas
Alford Porter (1964), and wife, Cathy Goff
(1964), live in the house that Elisha built for
his family. The place to which he returned
after serving in Company F, 40th N.C. Artil-
lery, CSA. The Porter children, Betsy, Char-
lie, Margaret and younger brother, Tom, grew
up, rode their ponies and horses, hunted in
the woods, and were nurtured here much as
were their many forbearers.

According to records, Philip Thomas, son
of Philip and Ann Thomas of Bertie County,
North Carolina was born about 1 730. He first
bought acreage in Edgecombe County in 1 756
and added to it as the years passed. One of his
sons, Jacob, had a son, Wilson (1786-1850),
who married Nancy Proctor. Their son, Eli-
sha, is the great-grandfather of the present
owner. When Elisha returned from the Civil
War to the home that he had built for his fami-
ly, neither his son, Rufus, nor his son, George
(1866-1946) had been born. Both of these
sons owned the farm during their working
years.

George Thomas and Dililla Ann Mears'
(1868-1958) sons, Elisha and Rufus, worked
this farm, sold tractors and were tobacco
curers to support their families.

Rufus Alford Thomas ( 1 903- 1 98 1 ) married
Jessie Irene Bullock (1906-1986). During
World War II Rufus added peanuts to the
corn, soybeans, wheat and tobacco that had
been cultivated for the 230 years that this
farm has been operating. Their daughter,
Joyce, and her family are the present owners
of the farm.

Now the Porter grandchildren enjoy riding
the horses and playing in the fields while
great-great-grandparents Elisha and Susan
sleep in the family cemetery.

Submitted by Cathy Goff Porter

THE VYORSLEY FARM

Three generations of Worsleys have owned
Ballahac land in Edgecombe County.

This house is on the 406 acres of Worsley land.

Arnold Worsley and William Bryant pur-
chased 57 acres on Ballahac Canal in 1874.
Arnold Worsley later purchased Bryant's one-
half interest.

In 1907 Arnold bought another twelve and
one-half acres next to the fifty-seven acres.

Nathan Arnold Worsley, Sr. became owner
of the land at the death of his father Arnold
Worsley in 1921.

In 1 926 Nathan Arnold purchased an addi-
tional 406 acres two miles from the Ballahac

92

land. This 406 acres was part of a 900+ acre
tract owned by Little Berry Worsley, his
grandfather.

Nathan Arnold died in 1959 leaving the
475 acres to his heirs.

James Cecil (son of Nathan Arnold and
grandson of Arnold) bought the 475 acres
from the heirs in 1 975. James Cecil has since
purchased 2 1 5 acres from adjoining farms.

James has farmed this land since 1956.
Crops grown are tobacco, peanuts, corn, soy-
beans, wheat and other small grains.

James has a son, James Cecil, Jr., to carry
the Worsley ownership in the future.
Submitted by James C. and Josephine D. Worsley

Forsyth County

THE CONRAD FARM

The original land deed was made to Chris-
tian Conrad, and wife, Maria, on December
10, 1778 from the state of North Carolina,
signed by Governor Richard Caswell. At
Christian's death, October 25, 1 84 1 , the land
passed to his son, Johannes Conrad and his
wife, Catherine. At the death of Johannes, the
land passed to his son, Timothy Conrad and
wife, Mary. At Timothy's death, the land
passed to his son, Jeremiah Bahnson Conrad
and wife, Melissa Stotlz on October 28, 1 884.
At Jeremiah's death, February 18, 1916, the
land passed to his daughter, Mabel Conrad
Conrad and husband, Marvin W. Conrad. At
Mabel's death on September 7, 1 982, the land
was left to her son, Ned MacDonald Conrad.
Ned restored the house and now lives there
with wife, Betty F. Conrad.

The Conrad home built in 1870.

Jeremiah Bahnson Conrad built the home-
place in 1870 that Ned and Betty have
restored. Most of the original outbuildings are
gone now. Ned's mother inherited the home-
place and 76 acres in 1916, and lived there
until her death 95 years later.

Submitted by Ned and Betty Conrad

THE CONRAD FARM

John Conrad, my great-great-grandfather,
born 1778, owned a vast tract of land in
Stokes County (now Forsyth County) from
Glenn Ferry southward beyond Lewisville,
North Carolina. In 1 807 "River John," as he
was known, built his home "River View" on
a parcel of land bought from William Wood-
fork in 1802 in the county of Stokes, contain-
ing 418.5 acres, and 15 acres of water in the
Yadkin River so as to include a fish trap.

Edgecombe — Forsyth

"River View" still stands as sturdy in 1 988
as when built. It is now owned and occupied
by Mr. and Mrs. George Gwaltney, and is
located on Conrad Road just off Old 42 1 near
the Yadkin River.

John Joseph Conrad, son of "River John"
and my great-grandfather, had two sons,
Augustus Eugene and William Alexander. My
grandfather, William Alexander, inherited
six hundred acres of the land. He was married
to Eliza J. Springs of Charlotte, North Caroli-
na. He was killed in the Civil War in 1 864. His
widow remained at "River View" managing
the farm and raising her family of four chil-
dren.

My father, Thomas J. Conrad, inherited
two hundred acres of farmland in 1888 and
farmed it until 1939. Prior to 1939 the farm
was used as general farming. In 1 939 I added
cattle, hogs and chickens on a moderate scale
which gave us a means to build a modern
home and a fairly well equipped farm.

In 1 896 my father, Thomas J. Conrad, and
Mary Elizabeth Brock were married. To this
union were born four children, three surviv-
ing. Wriston Brock Conrad became a dentist,
a graduate of Atlanta Southern Dental Col-
lege. He married and practiced dentistry in
Orangeburg, South Carolina for fifty years.
Beulah Conrad Summers, a graduate of Duke
University, taught school in Forsyth and
adjoining counties for twenty-five years. Both
are deceased now.

I, Richard Maxwell Conrad, was a member
of the first graduating class of Vienna High
School in 1923 in Forsyth County. I came
back to farm in 1 930 and owner in 1 939.

In 1940 I was married to Margaret Miller.
For twenty-five years we kept a licensed foster
home. Most of the twenty-four children came
from Baptist orphanage at Thomasville,
North Carolina. Some stayed only a short
while, others much longer, and often come
back for visits — always calling this "home."
They are scattered from Anchorage, Alaska to
Tokyo, Japan.

This farm has been in continuous use and in
the "Conrad" name for the past 200 years.
There are no heirs to carry on the family tradi-
tion. In just a matter of a few short years, it
will probably be a housing project or a golf
course.

Old farms, like old people, they just fade
away. Submitted by Richard M. Conrad

THE DOUB FARM

According to family history, Doub families
have owned and farmed an acreage located in
Vienna Township, Forsyth County, North
Carolina for many generations.

The first member of the family of whom we
have any record was born in Germany in
1742. He emigrated from Switzerland to
America, living a short time in Pennsylvania
before coming to Stokes County (now For-
syth) North Carolina.

The exact time this farm was purchased is
not recorded. However, we know Jacob Doub
(fourth son) was born in 1 785. His son Daniel
lived near the present homeplace and raised
four sons. His fourth son inherited the home-
place where he raised his family of nine chil-
dren.

The first house that there are pictures of
was a wooden structure with a kitchen not
connected to the living quarters. This house
was occupied until 1907 when a new two-
story house was built nearby.

This farm is very productive where the
open land is used, but there are "hills and hol-
lows" in the wooded areas. At one time tobac-
co was the money crop along with grain, soy-
beans, etc. There were always dairy cows,
chickens and turkeys raised for food and for
sale. To add to the family income, strawber-
ries and fruit trees were an important asset.

In the last 40 years another modern ranch
type home replaced the one built in 1907.
Oscar Doub purchased the farm from other
heirs in the early forties and raised Hereford
beef cattle along with raising grain and gener-
al farming. He also built houses and got
involved in the chicken business with baby
chicks and then layers. Eggs were sold to local
stores and individuals. This business was very
time consuming but profitable until more
farmers decided to get in on this business and
the market was flooded.

Oscar continued to farm on a smaller scale
with more gardening after his retirement
years and later rented the open land to other
farmers that were better equipped. After his
death in 1972, the farm was rented to large
farmers with modern equipment.

I live on the farm and enjoy seeing the fields
in various crops each season. It is a great life!
My son and grandson will have an opportuni-
ty to enjoy happy days here also.

Submitted by Gladys C. Doub

THE GRABS FARM

Gottfried Grabs was born in Germany in
1716 and came to Pennsylvania with his
Moravian parents. After his marriage, he
moved his family to the Moravian settlement

The Doub homeplace, built in 1907, is typical for its

Susan H. Petree, David and Karen Petree, her
grandchildren, in May 1987.

93

in Bethabara, North Carolina (Forsyth Coun-
ty) in 1 759. He was a farmer, shoemaker and
one of the founders of Bethania Moravian
Church at Bethania, North Carolina.

His son, John Gottfried Grabs, born in
1798, moved his family in 1829, seven miles
north of Bethania to a tract of land on Crook-
ed Run Creek in Stokes County. He was a far-
mer and blacksmith and raised corn, wheat,
flax and tobacco.

Lewis Edwin Grabs, John's son, born in
1820, inherited a tract of this land at his
father's death in 1 89 1 . He continued to farm
and also farmed the two tracts of his brother,
John Soloman Grabs, and his sister, Julina
Grabs Spainhour.

L.E. Grab's son, Lazarus Shore Grabs, had
nine children and lived in King, North Caroli-
na. His daughter, Hattie Grabs Hunter, and
her husband, Charlie E. Hunter, moved to the
L.E. Grabs farm to take care of Mrs. L.E.
Grabs, Hattie's grandmother, and to continue
farming the land in 1911. While there, they
bought the tracts of Julina G. Spainhour and
John Grabs, Hattie's uncle and aunt. These
tracts are the century farm land and have been
in the Grabs family 1 58 years.

After her husband's death in 1950, Hattie
Grabs Hunter continued the farming opera-
tion and had loblolly pines planted on one
Grabs tract in 1 968. She deeded the two tracts
(170 acres) to her daughter, Susan Hunter
Petree in 1973. Corn, wheat and tobacco are
presently grown on the farm. The Grabs tracts
will be passed on to her son, David Hoke
Petree, Jr. in the future.

The present entire farm, including the
Grabs tracts, consists of 270 acres and is
located on Spainhour Mill Road, Tobaccovil-
le, North Carolina.

Submitted by Susan H. Petree

THE PFAFF FARM

Peter Pfaff, Sr. was born June 24, 1727 at
Kaiserlauten, Palatinate; died January 22,
1 804 in Pfaff s settlement, Stokes County. He
married in 1750 in Yorktown (now called
York), Pennsylvania, Anna Walberger Ker-
ber, born December 26, 1734, Lancaster,
Pennsylvania; died November 9, 1 774, Fried-
berg settlement.

They had six children and their sixth child
was Peter, Jr. He was born January 27, 1 773,
Friedberg, North Carolina; died June 22,
1865. He married in 1802, Anna Magdalena
Conrad, born November 20, 1 782; died Sep-
tember 25, 1863, buried at Bethania.

They had nine children. The sixth child was
Philipp Heinrich. He was born January 18,
1815, Pfafftown, and married Melinda Stock-
burger.

They owned the land that is now the Pfaff
farm located in the northwest of Forsyth
County with the Muddy Creek as the east
boundary.

Philipp Heinrich and Melinda had three
sons. They had a small cabin now located
behind the old Boose house on Hilltop Drive.
Flavius Nathanael born October 4, 1849,
built a two-story cabin up the road from
Philipp Heinrich and Melinda. Flavius
Nathanael was married to Katherine Lein-
back. The first son of Philipp was Artenius
Eusebius born June 6, 1 847, married to Neva-
da Banner. Artenius bought the two-story

Forsyth — Franklin
cabin and land from his two brothers, Flavius
Nathanael and Philip Gideon.

Artenius and Nevada had six children.
Their only son, William Luther Pfaff, bought
the farm and house from his sisters after his
father, Artenius, died January 15, 1903. Wil-
liam Luther, born September 3, 1878; died
September 7, 1 962. He was married to Fannie
Elizabeth Ziglar born April 8, 1882; died
October 15, 1973. They had ten children.

The second child, Frederick Artenius,
bought out his brothers and sisters. Frederick
Arentius was born August 14, 1905; died May
12, 1964. He married Mary Pauline Conrad
Pfaff. They had five children.

The youngest, Faye Artenius Pfaff Burns,
born January 25, 1953. Faye is married to
Byran Anderson Burns born September 7,
1951. They have three children: Andrea
Christina Burns born April 3, 1972; Nancy
Kathleen Burns, born November 10, 1978;
and Paul Anderson Burns, born December 9,
1984. They are the fifth generation living in
the farmhouse.

This land and house have always been full
of life and love. Every generation raised their
main food, such as corn, oats, wheat and gar-
den vegetables. It was in about 1 954 they had
the last dairy cow. After that they had their
milk delivered. Faye's father, Fred worked in
town at McLeans Trucking Co.

Faye's brother, Charles Franklin Pfaff, Sr.,
took over the care of the farm when their
father died. Charles was born May 9, 1933,
and died April 22, 1986. Up until his death,
he planted large gardens of vegetables. He
would plant at least 200 pounds of potatoes to
feed much of the family. He was married to
Dixie Dawn Church, born November 5, 1 937.
They had three children.

Mary Pauline Conrad Pfaff lives in the
house with Faye, Bryan and their three chil-
dren. She has lived here since she got married
at seventeen for all but the five years that she
and Fred lived in Richmond, Virginia with
the three eldest children.

Now the farm is still providing some vege-
tables and a lot of pleasure to us all. We love
living here with our happy memories and look
forward to many more happy and loving years
for us and future generations.

Submitted by Faye P. Burns

Franklin County

THE BAKER FARM

Only three generations span 145 years of
ownership of the Baker farm in the Mapleville

This smokehouse, built around 1843, is still in use
for curing pork meat in 1988. It was built with logs,
pegs, wooden door hinges and wood shingles.

Community of Franklin County, near Louis-
burg, North Carolina.

The original owner, Marshall Baker ( 1 798-
1879) was from a family that had lived in
Franklin County for nearly 100 years. Mar-
shall's grandfather, William Baker, came
from Nansemond County, Virginia, and was
among the earliest settlers of the area. Wil-
liam left land to Marshall's father, James
Baker, in 1777. James gave land on Cedar
Creek to Marshall as his "just inheritance" in
1837.

Marshall evidently sold the land he
obtained from his father and purchased the
274 acre farm in the Mapleville Community
for $825 in 1843. Marshall, Elizabeth May,
his wife, and seven of their nine children
moved to a one-room cabin on the farm. They
built a two-story colonial home on the farm
shortly after moving there.

Marshall had only three sons and each
served in the Civil War. William M. received
a medical discharge in 1 863 and died in 1 867.
After one month of service in 1862, James
Maynard died of a disease in Richmond.
Archibald served as a messenger boy during
the last part of the war, and he was the only
surviving male child of Marshall Baker.
Archibald and the four daughters who never
married inherited Marshall's land. Marshall's
four daughters willed their share of the land to
Archibald's children.

In 1895 Archibald married Zenobia Gard-
ner when he was 50 and she was 1 8 years old.
He and Zenobia lived in the original home
with the four old-maid sisters until their
death. The original house burned November
6, 1921 and a replacement home was built by
the neighbors. Zenobia G. Baker and the chil-
dren were responsible for the farm during
Archibald's old age and after his death until
Zenobia retired in the 1930's. Maynard G.
Baker inherited the homeplace and pur-
chased the shares of two of his sisters to form
a farm of 84 acres. Maynard married Mary
Neal in 1935, and they have managed and
worked the tobacco, general crop and live-
stock farm since then. The part owned by
Maynard and Mary Baker plus a share owned
by one of his sisters has been in the Baker fam-
ily since 1843.

The original smokehouse (with wooden
hinges), the original packhouse and the chim-
ney to the old kitchen house are still standing
on the original farm homestead. Stair steps
from the original log cabin are still used in the
packhouse. Submitted by Maynard G. Baker

THE CONYERS FARM

My grandfather, James Henry Conyers,
was born January 23, 1 854 to Thomas Henry
and Sarah Winston Conyers on a farm located
3.5 miles northeast of Franklinton, North
Carolina. After losing his mother at a very
early age and his father remarrying, young
James Henry "Jimmy" Conyers left home at
age 2 1 to take on his own responsibilities and
to buy a farm.

In 1881 he purchsed a farm that was origi-
nally owned by Dr. B.T. Green, a country doc-
tor. James Henry Conyers borrowed part of
the money to buy the farm from C.H. Sand-
ling and wife, Rebecca J. Sandling. At the age
of 24 he was married to Swannie Beachum,
the daughter of a Baptist minister. Jimmy and
Swannie, along with their family (ten boys

94

The James Henry "Jimmy" Conyers family and
home.

and a girl) continued to raise grain and cotton.
Some years later he purchased 65 acres known
as the Jim Holden farm which adjoined his
farm, but later it was sold to the George Per-
gerson family due to the high taxes in the area.

In August 1929 James Henry Conyers
passed away and when the estate was settled a
son, Hayward Ballard Conyers, received a
share of the farm and bought the remaining
shares and continued to farm until 1957.

After my father's retirement in 1957 the
land was farmed by me (J. Howard Conyers)
and shared by my father. The crops consisted
of corn, soybeans, tobacco and cotton. This
was done not by mules and walking plows, but
with more modern equipment.

My father passed away in October 1 986 at
the age of 93. At his death I became the owner
of the original 1 00. 5 acres. I am still interested
in farming and grain crops are being planted
on the farm.

I am proud to be a descendant of farmers
and to be a member of the Century Farm
Family of North Carolina.

Submitted by J. Howard Conyers

THE HOLDEN FARM

Berry P. Holden of Youngsville, North
Carolina, owns and resides on land that was
purchased August 5, 1834 by his great-great-
great-grandfather Isham Holden. The tract
bought in 1 834 was 294 acres. In 1835 Isham
bought an adjoining sixty acres.

Grandma Holden and two of the Holden descen-
dants in front of their home.

In August of 1841 Isham conveyed this
land to his son, Richard Holden, who had in
October, 1840 married Charlotte Mitchell. It
was on this land that Richard Holden, Sr. set-
tled and built a home which still stands today.

The home faces the old Oxford-Raleigh
Stage Road, which is a few yards east of U.S.
Highway #1. Richard and his descendants

Franklin

farmed the land, raised typical area products
and farm animals. He began to buy additional
adjoining land which was in the vicinity of
Richland Creek and the old Hillsboro-
Tarboro Stage Road which intersected the
Oxford Road. By 1 860 Richard owned nearly
1000 acres of land. He and his wife had six
children who in later years inherited divisions
of the Holden farmland.

Berry P. Holden, the great-great-grandson
of Isham, lived in the family ancestral home
for many years and still uses it for special
occasions. However, he and his wife, Bertha,
now reside in a brick home close by. Basically,
the old home is still the original structure,
although it has been remodeled some by B.P.
Mr. Holden owns some of the original hand-
written deeds to his property.

In the early part of this century, B.P. Hold-
en's father, also named Berry Holden, hosted
traditional fox hunts on his farm. There were
also hunts for other animals. We still hear a
story about a Youngsville fellow who became
so excited in a fox hunt that he drove his old
mule so hard, he was never the same again.

A good many years ago ( 1 964) B.P. and wife
Bertha established "Holden's Barbecue"
which is now a widely known landmark. The
restaurant and barbecue equipment are locat-
ed on U.S. #1 across from their home. For
many years Mr. Holden raised all the hogs for
the pork he barbecued.

Mr. and Mrs. Holden are now of retirement
age, but are still actively involved in the fami-
ly business which includes several of their
children who are married and live in the
vicinity with their families.

The B.P. Holden Farm now consists of 35
acres. Shortly after the railroad was complet-
ed through our area in 1840, Isham Holden
bought 1 38 acres on both sides of the tracks.

In May, 1 848, Mr. Holden sold this tract to
James A. Spencer, a pioneer merchant along
with Mr. John Young, Jr. who owned adjoin-
ing land. In July of that same year of 1 848 the
Post Office of Pacific was established in the
northern part of Young land. The Holden-
Young property line ran all the way through
our community in the approximate vicinity
of present Franklin Street.

After Pacific grew, it was incorporated as
The Town of Youngsville, in honor of Mr.
Young.

To this day descendants of the Holdens,
Youngs and other pioneer families remain
active in this area. Submitted by BP. Holden

THE MITCHINER FARM

On October 27, 1858, Mr. Festus Mit-
chiner came from Johnston County to Frank-
lin County and purchased 963 acres of land
from Weldon E. Person. On September 13,

The Mitchiner home, taken in 1977.

1859 he purchased 120 acres of land from
Weldon E. Person. On January 22, 1869 he
purchased 326 acres of land from CM.
Cooke. On March 1, 1869 he purchased 51.5
acres from William A. Winston and wife,
Mary E. Winston. On July 6, 1869 he pur-
chased 50 acres of land from J.E. Tharrington
and wife, Martha Tharrington. On October
15, 1872 70 acres were purchased from E.T.
Gill. On January 6, 1872 he purchased 50.5
acres from John C. Winston. On December
23, 1874 he purchased 1 3.5 acres from Robert
E. Yarborough and wife, Sarah C. Yarbor-
ough. All of these lands were used for the pur-
pose of farming; major crops were cotton,
tobacco, corn and other grain.

A portion of this land was willed to his son,
Reuben Samuel Mitchiner who willed por-
tions to his children, one of which was Luther
Walton Mitchiner and he willed 1 70 acres to
his son, David Watson Mitchiner who is the
current owner. Watson Mitchiner's sons,
David Watson Mitchiner, Jr. and Wallace
Oliver Mitchiner are the fifth generation to
live on this farm. The farm is still used for
farming of tobacco, corn and hay.

The original house is on the farm but has
had many changes added over the years and at
the present no one lives in the house. The
house was listed in the book by T.H. Pearce
"Early Architecture of Franklin County."

Submitted by D. U'atson Mitchiner

THE BURGESS MULLEN FARM

This farm is very unique because there has
been a child or grandchild living here since
March 1 3, 1854. On this date Burgess Mullen
purchased 103 acres of land 1 x h miles east of
Bunn on RR 1609, the Tar River being the
eastern line. Here he raised 21 children from
four marriages (no divorces).

This fruit bearing Keefer Pear tree is over 100 years
old and is located at the original homeplace.

Walter Mullen, father of Gladys Mullen
(Scott), was from the last marriage to Berline
Todd. He was also the last child to live on the
farm. When he was well past 30 he married

Franklin — Gaston

Viola Lewis from Nash County. They had
three girls, Mavis, Gladys and Ruby.

Before my father Walter became ill from a
stroke, the oldest daughter, Mavis moved
back and built a home on the farm and contin-
ues to live here. After the severe stroke, Wal-
ter and Viola lived with Gladys in Nashville
so that she might be able to care for both of
them. He passed away in 1963.

After Walter passed away, Viola and Glad-
ys came back to live in the home house where
Gladys still lives. At the death of the last
daughter, the farm will be owned by the two
grandsons whom Walter and Viola Mullen
raised. The grandsons are B. Claybourne Har-
per and Carl E. Harper. All of this makes this
farm unique. Submitted by Gladys M. Scott

THE PERRY FARM

A Perry has lived on this land since James
bought it in 1 768. Parts of what James owned
have been handed down through the children,
grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
James' son, Wiston, had thirteen children
who inherited 300 acres a piece in 1 8 1 8. Some
kept theirs and passed it on while others sold
their share.

The Ethridge house, 1967.

Wiston's son, William Henry, left his share
of the Perry Plantation to his son Oliver. In
1956 Oliver left his share to his daughters,
Nell Beasley, Linda Jones, and Billie
Ethridge.

The Ethridges broke tradition and started
producing pork on their share along with the
traditional tobacco, corn, and grain. The 1 50
acres were also used for tree management.

We built our house using the rock from the
old chimneys on the plantation, and the floors
are from the first timber cut on the plantation
in 1768. We took them from the plantation
manor house which was partly burned in
1 890. Submitted by Billie P. Ethridge

THE PERRY FARM

Several years before the American Revolu-
tion and eight generations ago a plantation
was carved out of the wilderness between
Moccasin and Norris Creeks in southern
Franklin County. The major crops produced
since then were tobacco, corn, cotton, wheat,
barley, oats, rye and soybeans. The second
owner of this farm, a son, fought in the Revo-
lutionary War. He had six grandsons that
fought in the Civil War with four getting
killed.

On the 100+ acres that we now own of the
original large farm there was a log dwelling
house, three log tobacco barns, a smokehouse,
store or plantation commissary, corn crib and

horse stalls, striproom over a pit for grading
and preparing tobacco for market and a hand
dug well with curb. This portion of the farm
was tilled by one of the above mentioned Con-
federate widows and children. While the war
was still in progress this widow, living here at
the time, was working in her garden beside
some woods one day. A hunter saw a move-
ment and thought it was a deer — shot, and in
so doing killed this lady.

Since the turn of the century this farm has
been rented out to tenants that usually lived
on the above described premises between SR
1721, 1722 and 1723. The exception to this
being when the present owner returned from
serving in the U.S. Army during World War II
and planted tobacco, corn, and wheat on this
land while it was in his father's possession.
Horses, mules and cotton were gradually
phased out. The farm operation became more
mechanized. The farm included other adjoin-
ing acreage, a large mill pond with grist and
feed mill. A lot of new farm and mill equip-
ment was purchased during the next decade.
The mill discontinued operation in 1 965. The
father died in 1972 and we have rented the
farm to local farmers and plan to do so in the
future. The buildings were dismantled in
1 987 due to them being in a state of disrepair
because of termites and deterioration. In the
same year approximately fifty acres of prime
timber were sold. This farm will continue to
be used for row crops, grain and woodland.

Submitted by Benny L. Perry

William Henry Perry; wife, Frances Elizabeth Wil-
der; son, Oliver Wiston Perry; daughter, Maggie Ann
Perry Underbill and son, Algenon Bryant Perry in
front of their home built in 1899.

THE PERRY FARM

The farm of Mrs. Sam Jones (Nell Perry)
Beasley now belongs to her daughter, Jo Dee
Beasley Jolliff as of 1 982. This farm was origi-
nally farmed by Jo Dee's great-grandfather,
William Henry Perry. This tract of land
belonged to James Wiston Perry who left it to
William Wiston. He left it divided among ten
living children of 1 3. William Henry was the
1 3th child and passed it on to his son, Oliver
Wiston in 1928. Oliver Wiston deeded this
particular tract to his daughter, Nell, in 1960
consisting of 76 acres according to the deed.

The other two children of Oliver Wiston
Perry who own other parts adjoining this tract
are Billie Perry Ethridge and Linda Perry
Jones. Submitted by Mrs. S.J. Beasley

THE SPEED FARM

The Speed Farm was purchased in 1 857 by
Robert A. and Mary Davis Speed. They raised
ten children including Henry P. who pur-

Senator Speed's home.

chased the other children's shares in the farm
after the death of their parents around the
turn of the century.

Henry P. and his wife, Addie, operated the
farm and raised five children during their life-
time. After the death of Henry P. in 1957, a
son, James D. Speed, purchased the shares of
his two brothers and two sisters and has oper-
ated the farm until present.

Tobacco, grain, hay and timber are now
grown on the 600 acre tract. Beef cattle has
been the principal livestock grown.

The farm is located ten miles north of
Louisburgon S.R. 1436 and joins the proper-
ty on one side by Laurel Mill, a well-known
historical and scenic site. The mill is listed in
the National Register of Historical Places.

In addition to living in the original home in
which he was born, and of operating the farm,
James D. Speed has served six terms in the
North Carolina House of Representatives
and six terms in the North Carolina Senate.
He and his wife, Martha, have three grown
children: Claudia, Robert T. and James M.
He will begin his seventh term in the North
Carolina Senate in January 1989.

Submitted by James D. Speed

Gaston County

THE CARPENTER FARM

A small farm with an interesting history
describes this Gaston County farm. German
and Swiss (Pennsylvania Dutch) settlers
arrived in North Carolina Piedmont in the
middle of the 1 8th century, coming to North
Carolina mostly by way of southeastern Penn-
sylvania.

As pioneers elsewhere they cleared land,
built their log cabins, and settled in as farmers
in a new land. After the area was officially
labeled Anson County in 1 749 (later Meck-
lenburg, Tryon, Lincoln, and then Gaston),
they proceeded to apply for and obtain land
grants for the tracts on which they lived.

The west side of the farm was part of a 300-
acre grant to Henry Isenhart in 1 763; the east
side was part of a grant to Johannes Zimmer-
man (John Carpenter) in 1775.

The Isenhart tract was sold to a Peter Car-
penter. In 1818a portion of it was sold to his
daughter, Margaret, and her husband, Henry
Kiser. This tract, on the death of Margaret,
went to daughter Annie in 1 874. In the mean-
time, Annie had in 1851 married M.L. Car-
penter, who in 1855 had purchased a portion
of the tract originally allotted to John Carpen-
ter in 1775.

96

Along the east side of the farm M.L. Car-
penter built his home. Best known as a Meth-
odist minister, he also farmed and operated a
store near his home, on the Yorkville Road,
then the main route between Lincolnton,
North Carolina, and York, South Carolina.

On the death of M.L. Carpenter in 1 9 1 8, fif-
ty acres and the homesite passed to his youn-
gest son, William B. Carpenter, who operated
it with his son, Lester Webb Carpenter, until
his retirement about 1950. Cotton was the
principal crop.

On the death of Lester Webb Carpenter, in
1959, the farm descended to his son, William
L. Carpenter, at the time a professor and
administrator at N.C. State University in
Raleigh. The farm was tenant operated and
woodlands established until the 1 980s when a
small peach and apple orchard was devel-
oped. This orchard was established in antici-
pation of the retirement of William L. which
occurred at the end of 1984. Today the farm
is operated by William L. and wife, Mattie
W., primarily as an orchard and timber opera-
tion. Submitted by William L.

and Mattie W. Carpenter

THE CRAIG FARM

Craigland Farm, located between Catawba
Creek and Mill Creek on Big Branch in south-
eastern Gaston County, in 1987 is the home
of Bill and Wilma Craig — William Neely and
Wilma Ratchford Craig. Earlier, it was the
home of Bill's parents, Ralph Ray and Grace
Moore Craig and their family of four. Bill's
grandparents, William Newton and Emily
Wilson Craig with their family of six children,
built a two-story farmhouse still used as a resi-
dence. Bill's great-grandparents, William and
Margaret Isabella Neely Craig with their fam-
ily of five children, lived in a dwelling now
used as an outbuilding. Bill's great-great-
grandparents, James and "Polly" McKnight
Craig with their twelve children, acquired the
land about 1813.

The William N. Craig house built in 1886 on land
owned by the Craig family since 1813.

James Craig, son of Henry and Mary Craig
of now York County, South Carolina, pur-
chased a 42 acre tract of undeveloped land
from a Johnathan Rhyne and added to his
inheritance. Henry was a Revolutionary vet-
eran who was wounded at the battle of Fishing
Creek. James was a maker of felt hats and a
farmer. In the growing season he raised food
for the family, feed for livestock, and cotton
for a cash crop. He transported the cotton to
Charleston, South Carolina for sale. On
return trips he would bring back hardware,
salt and other items necessary for the opera-

Gaston

tion and improvement of his farm and trade
of hat-making. By a series of pruchases, he
enlarged his holdings in the general area.

James' son, William Moore Craig, inherit-
ed the portion of the holding that became
CRaigland. He was a farmer and cobbler.

William Moore Craig's son, William New-
ton Craig, added to his inheritance and
became a planter with many tenants furnish-
ing the labor for the production of cotton.

William Newton Craig's three sons and
three daughters inherited the twelve hundred
acre farm. Ralph Ray Craig, one of the sons of
William Newton Craig, continued in the pro-
duction of cotton using tenant labor until
mechanization reduced labor needs. He saw
the change from tenant farmers living on the
land helping raise cotton to some dairy pro-
duction, fruit trees, poultry, to the beef cattle
operation which requires less intensive labor.
He also was engaged in off-farm employment
to supplement his income.

Today, a herd of Belted Galloway cattle,
pasture land, forage crops, woodland, garden
spots, home and farm buildings occupy
CRaigland. Off-farm work makes it possible
to hold onto the land and keep a bit of rural
life in the midst of a rapidly urbanizing area.

It is the goal of the present owners for
CRaigland to remain a working family farm
into the next century and beyond.

Submitted by William Neely and
Wilma Ratchford Craig

THE DELLINGER FARM

The first Dellingers probably arrived in
Gaston County around the time of the Revo-
lutionary War. Since that time six generations
of Dellingers have farmed there. The first
farm was located in White Pine, now Cherry-
ville, between Indian Creek and Muddy Fork
Creek and was owned by George and Eliza-
beth Dellinger. On December 1, 1837, Eliza-
beth gave birth to Phillip H. Dellinger. Dur-
ing the Civil War, Phillip served in the
Eleventh North Carolina Infantry Regiment
until losing his right leg at the Battle of the
Wilderness. After his release he returned to
White Pine and married Sarah E. Evans on
May 6, 1865. They moved to her family's
farm a few miles from present day Cherryville
on Muddy Fork Creek. It is 54 acres of that
land tract that is the century farmland.

Alvin and Ola Dellingers farmhouse in Cherryville,
N.C.

The house that stands on that land today is
the same house that Phillip built when he and
Sarah moved to the farm in 1865, with the
exception of an addition built in 1910. They
raised cotton to sell and a variety of other food
stuffs for personal use. Phillip died in 1922
leaving the farm to his wife and three of his

eight children that remained there. One of his
daughters, Amandus, had a son, Alvin, in
1 904 before her death in 1922. Alvin stayed at
the farm with his aunt, Ella, and uncle, Mutz.
He married Ola Carpenter in 1937 and
returned to the farm with her. They continued
to grow a variety of crops for themselves and
friends. Their son, Gene, graduated from
Appalachian State University in 1965 and
chose a career in education but still has great
interest in the farm due to his two sons.

Only a few acres of the current fifty-four
acre tract of land are actively farmed. The rest
of the rich soil waits for a time when it will be
called on again. Submitted by Alvin H. Dellinger

THE FRIDAY FARM

Nicholas Friday (or Freytag) was born
December 1745 in York County, Pennsylva-
nia and came south to Gaston County
between the years 1757-1765. He acquired a
large tract of land on both sides of the south
fork of the Catawba River near the town of
Hardin. Upon his death, these lands passed to
his two sons, Jonas and Andrew. They
acquired more land from settlers moving
west.

A log barn, built by John Nicholas Friday, on the Fri-
day farm.

In 1835 one of Jonas' sons, John Nicholas
Friday, built the log barn pictured and also a
house on land which is part of the present
farm. Whether this was a part of the original
tract or bordered it has not been determined.
The original house burned in 1900 but the
barn, with additions, still stands. A portion of
the farm, 1 39 acres, was inherited by Michael
A. Friday, son of John Nicholas Friday.
Michael divided the farm between his sons
and daughters. However, Lewis E. Friday, his
youngest son, purchased his brothers' and sis-
ters' shares to keep the farm intact. Lewis
passed the farm on to his son, Edward E. Fri-
day, the present owner.

At present, the farm consists of 216 acres
on which Shorthorn cattle, Nubian dairy
goats and hay are raised. This land has been
farmed by members of the Friday family for
at least 1 50 years, and there are three sons and
a daughter to carry on this tradition.

Submitted by Edward E. Friday

THE LYNLAND FARM

According to a deed dated December 29,
1 789 recorded in the Lincoln County register
of deeds office, a 225 acre tract on a branch of
Duhart Creek in Lincoln (now Gaton) Coun-
ty, North Carolina was purchased by John

Gaston

The Tit man home circa 1940.

Titman for 130 pounds. This original tract
was added to and divided many times.

John's son, Anthony Titman; Anthony's
son, Abram Boyden Titman; Abram's daugh-
ter, Elizabeth Margaret Titman Wilson; Eliz-
abeth Margaret's son, Lyndon Grier Wilson
and Lyndon's daughter, Lynda Ellen Wilson
Hancock, are the direct lineage of owners who
have engaged in agriculture through the years.

Lynda's parents, Lyndon Grier and Ela
Dixon Wilson, lived the agrarian, simple,
though sometimes harsh life for 53 years until
his death in 1 973. The farm was a calm place
with a garden for vegetables, fruit trees, tim-
ber land, strawberries, native berries, with
mules to work, cows for milk and butter,
chickens for eggs as well as food. Her father
rose early to go to the fields of corn, cotton,
and grain, and her mother cooked, canned,
planted flowers, milked and churned, and
washed clothes in a black pot. They experi-
enced changes in the ways of farming.

Lynda married John Harry Hancock, a city
man from Decatur, Georgia. They built a
home on the property in 1967 and helped to
carry on the tradition. Much of the land was
converted to a permanent pasture for raising
beef cattle.

Lynda and John's two children, Stephen
and Julia, were raised on the tract of land now
known as Lynland. Their children are being
raised in urban areas. Will Stephen and Julia
be the last generation of Lynda's family to
have the privilege of being reared in rural
America as the urban world moves steadily
closer to Lynland?

Submitted by Lynda W. Hancock

THE PASOUR FARM

Since before the middle of the i 8th century
when George Bashore (later spelled Pasour),
pioneer, settled in Gaston County on land
granted from the King of England, nine gener-
ations of Pasours have farmed the Pasour
mountain area near Dallas.

In 1 868 a great-grandson of pioneer George
Bashore, Manasseh Pasour, gave to his son
Caleb approximately 100 acres of farm and
timber lands, which today is the century farm-
land. In 1872 Caleb built his home, a seven-
room structure which stood until 1 979, and in
which he and his wife Sarah reared nine chil-
dren.

As was the case with earlier and later
Pasours, Caleb served in many civic capaci-
ties in addition to maintaining a well-run
farm and teaching school. He was a member
of the Gaston County Board of Commission-
ers for six years and held the office of chair-

Caleb Pasour family.

man of the board for four years, 1 893 through
1896. He also was a justice of the peace, and
several of his sons held that office as well.

After Caleb's death in 1898, the farm
passed to his oldest son, Grant, who contin-
ued the family farming, growing such diverse
crops as wheat, oats, barley, corn, cotton and
any number of vegetables. It was under
Grant's diligent land management that the
soil on the farm was developed into the prime
farmland status it enjoys to this day.

At his death in 1958, Grant Pasour willed
the farm to his widowed sister, Laura Pasour
Rhyne, who in turn willed it to her daughter,
Sarah Rhyne Watts.

During all the intervening years the farm
has continued in operation, and today it sup-
ports crops grown for an adjoining dairy farm
owned by James Pasour, himself a direct
descendant of pioneer George Bashore.

Submitted by Sarah R. Watts

THE PASOUR FARM

The history of our farm started when a
young man, Ambrose Rhyne, traded to his
father, wheat for 79 acres of farmland. He
started to build a home for himself and his
future bride, Mary Jenkins.

Unfortunately his plans were interrupted
by the Civil War. After four long years of
extreme hardship and deprivation, he
returned to finish his home and marry.

Although times were hard, Ambrose Rhyne
prospered. He was able later to buy 1 20 more
acres of land. Besides growing food for them-
selves, they grew corn for whiskey, sorghum
for molasses and of course cotton.

Tragedy struck again in 1869 when his
bride of four years died leaving him with two
baby daughters. These babies were placed in
relatives' homes. He later married Cynthia
Shetley and had three more daughters. One of
these girls married Samuel Pasour in 1900.
Samuel moved in with Mr. Rhyne and they
farmed in partnership for several years, dur-
ing which time several rooms were added to
the house. Sam had three children when he
bought a farm adjoining the Rhyne farm and
moved there. His oldest son, Howard, was
five years old and was very attached to Mr.
Rhyne and wanted to stay with him. They let
him stay since they were living nearby. How-

ard took over operation of the farm when Mr.
Rhyne died in 1924 and inherited his land
when the two unmarried Rhyne daughters
died. Howard Pasour bought 100 acres more
and left 300 acres when he died. After whiskey
became illegal, they sold milk, butter, molas-
ses, vegetables, eggs and firewood in the near-
by cotton mill villages. In 1 934 he started sell-
ing Grade A milk to Sunrise Dairy. In 1 936 he
stopped growing cotton. Howard Pasour sold
milk until he died in 1 980. After his death his
son Clay Pasour changed to beef cattle. Clay
Pasour became owner by will.

Submitted by Clay W. Pasour

THE SPARROW FARM

Robert William Wilson bought 224 acres
of land in the Union section of Gaston Coun-
ty in 1822 for a little over a dollar an acre.
More acreage was added from time to time.
Robert Wilson's son, Colonel Robert Newton
Wilson, married Mary Eliza Adams in 1862,
two months before he left for the Civil War.
Five children were born to Mary Eliza and
Colonel Wilson: William Clarence, Robert
Hope, Rebecca Jane, Frank G. and Catherine
Lavinia.

The Sparrow home, located on Sparrow Dairy Road,
was a landmark in Gaston County until it burned in
1961.

At Colonel Wilson's death the farm was
divided among the children. Kate (Catherine)
was married to Thomas Sparrow son of Rev-
erend George A. and Susan Brown Sparrow in
1897 and they operated a dairy farm on
Kate's share of the land. Three children were
born to Kate and Thomas: Thomas, Jr., Susan

98

Brown and Catherine. The Sparrow dairy
farm sold milk to many families in Gastonia,
as well as the City Hopital, North Carolina
Orthopedic Hospital, Arlington Hotel, Ken-
nedy's Drug Store, and Robinson School.

Thomas Sparrow, Jr. married Margaret
Frances Glenn from Clover, South Carolina
in 1925 and had two children, Mary Frances
and Thomas Glenn. The dairy farm contin-
ued until 1956 at which time the cows were
sold being replaced by beef cattle and hogs.

Thomas Glenn Sparrow married Joy Lau-
rice Whisonant in 1958 and from this union
two sons were born, Thomas Daniel Sparrow
and Steven Glenn Sparrow. At Thomas Spar-
row Jr.'s death in 1 975, Thomas Glenn Spar-
row and sons, Danny and Glenn, continued to
farm growing hay, corn, and garden products.
Several summers they sold corn at the far-
mer's market in Gastonia. Thomas Daniel
Sparrow (Danny) married Sherri Ann Cline
in 1986 and a son, Justin Thomas Sparrow,
was born on September 20, 1 988.

At the present time this makes six genera-
tions who have lived on and farmed land
which was bought in 1822. Hopefully Justin
and other descendants will carry on this farm-
ing tradition.

Submitted by Thomas Glenn Sparrow

THE SPARROW-RATCHFORD
FARM

Robert William Wilson bought this tract of
land in Lincoln County (now Gatson) in 1 822
for a little more than one dollar per acre.

The 40th wedding anniversary of Mary Frances
Sparrow Ratchford and George L. Ratchford, their
son, George, Jr., and his wife, Cheryl, ana grandson,
John Lyme Ratchford. Picture taken, October 18,
1987.

His son, Colonel Robert Newton Wilson,
fought under Robert E. Lee at Fredericksburg
and also under Stonewall Jackson. He lived to
be ninety-three and was well known for his
remarkable power of memory.

Colonel "Newt" Wilson's daughter, Cath-
erine Lavinia (Kate) Wilson, was the next
owner of the land. She married Thomas Spar-
row in 1897 and made their home on the
farm. They worked hard and long hours and
their farm became known as Sparrows Farm
Dairy.

Their son, Thomas Sparrow, Jr., inherited
a portion of the farm in 1955. He had made
his home on the farm his entire life and was
also a hard working farmer. He married Mar-
garet Frances Glenn in 1925 and they contin-
ued to live and work hard on the farm. Thom-
as and Margaret had a son, Thomas Glenn

Gaston — Gates

Sparrow, and a daughter, Mary Frances Spar-
row.

Mary Frances Sparrow was married to
George Lytle Ratchford in 1947. She inherit-
ed part of the land in 1975 and they moved
back to the old home site after living in Gasto-
nia. They have one son, George Lytle Ratch-
ford, Jr., who married Cheryl Gilmore in
1981 and lives in Gastonia. They have one
son, John Lytle Ratchford (4 years old).
George Jr. and John both enjoy coming out to
the farm to visit and work.

Six generations have lived on this farm and
the seventh generation never gets to stay long
enough.

It is an honor and privilege to have my fam-
ily history be included with other families in
the North Carolina Century Farm history col-
lection.

Submitted by Mary Frances Sparrow Ratchford

THE STROUP FARM

My family got its start from Peter Straub
who brought his wife and two sons, Peter II
and Jacob, to America in 1 733 from Germa-
ny. They settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylva-
nia. Jacob later came south to Alexis, North
Carolina, married and had twelve children.
He left a will dated March 27, 1 800 which was
probated in January 1 805 in Lincoln County,
North Carolina.

The fourth, fifth and sixth generations of Stroup
men: L to R: Albert Augustus, David Russell and
David Charles Stroup.

Moses Stroup, Sr. one of Jacob's sons is my
great-grandfather. Moses Sr. married Gincy
Mary Clark and they were granted three thou-
sand acres of land in Gaston County, North
Carolina by King George III.

David Russell and his wife, Pauline, along
with their only son, Albert Augustus, and his
son, David Charles all still reside on and farm
three hundred of the original three thousand
acres. David Russell and his wife live in the
third and last house built on the property in
1 888. The second house, built of logs cut from
the farm, is still in use today as a barn. There
are also two other outbuildings that are origi-
nal buildings, a wheat house and a wood shed.

Moses Stroup, Jr. served in the House of
Representatives in the session of 1891.

Submitted by David Russell Stroup

Gates County

THE BARNES FARM

The farm originally owned by James
Edward Barnes of Irish descent in the 1850s
has been a landmark in the Barnes family. On

a rural unpaved road in the Corapeake area
came to live William Jesse Barnes and Mary
Elizabeth Taylor a husband and wife. To their
union were added 13 children (one a still-
born). Four of these were victims of whooping
cough and expired.

Two lived to be four and five year olds —
treading their footsteps behind their father
following a mule and plow. Of the nine chil-
dren to live to mature years there still remains
a daughter 97, a son 86, and a son 8 1 years old.

There are many remembrances of life in the
past. The father went to the Portsmouth, Vir-
ginia city market with turkeys to sell in a cart
and mule for years. Many were the times
when the mule would run away while corn was
being pulled by hand. There were lean years
then, as now, when only three cartloads of
corn were harvested.

With 45 acres of land in cultivation there
was also cotton, peanuts and soybeans. There
was also a big garden and a few sweet potatoes
for home use. All of the Barnes family helped
to tend the crops — picking the cotton by
hand and picking peanuts by steam engine
and later with tractor drawn equipment.

Needless to say it was difficult to find time
to go to school. With only six month school
terms and with days missed to plant and har-
vet the crops an education was at a premium.
They walked to school to a one room school-
house. The boys were delighted to carry their
girlfriend's books for them.

Now the farm is rented to a neighbor who in
the year 1987 planted the entire farm in cot-
ton. It was beautiful growing and as the fields
began to blossom and then bear big balls of
cotton to be harveted by a mechanical picker.

We are proud to be a North Carolina Centu-
ry Farm family and Americans who believe in
agriculture. Submitted by Mrs. Frank Barnes

THE E.A. BLANCHARD HEIRS
FARM

On June 26, 1866 James Rountree was
deeded fifty acres of land, a horse and cart,
stock of all kinds and household and kitchen
furniture for the sum of five dollars due to an
indebtedness to him for the sum of three hun-
dred-fifty dollars.

E.A. Blanchard's home now owned by his heirs.

The house was two stories with hallways the
length of the house, downstairs and upstairs,
a front porch and the kitchen in the back away
from the main house. There was a milk house,
a smokehouse which was put together with
wooden pegs and is still standing, a cotton
house with spinning wheels — all which are
still in the family, and the wood house — all
surrounded by a fence. The following year he

99

Gates

bought fifty acres across the road. On this
land directly across from the house were the
stables, a little house known as the "still
house", and log barns one of which is still
standing. Stories are told that Civil War sol-
diers slept in the long hallways in the house
and drank whiskey which probably came
from the "still house."

In 1870 James Rountree died. He left his
wife and three young girls. She hired Elisha
Blanchard to be the "overseer" of the farm.
He "courted" one of the girls and they mar-
ried. They lived and farmed here and reared
four children. In 1880 he bought sixteen more
acres of land. In 1891 Elisha Blanchard
bought the property from James Rountree's
widow and the other two heirs.

In 1913 Elisha Blanchard's son, Elisha A.
Blanchard, married. At this time the house
was remodeled. Two more rooms were added
downstairs and upstairs on the other side of
the long hallways. The "old" kitchen was
joined by a porch to the main house. It still
stands and was used until 1957 when a mod-
ern kitchen was built in the main house and in
1961a bathroom was added.

In 1938 Elisha A. Blanchard's mother died
and he inherited his third of the farm and
became owner of the house. There were six
children in his family. They all helped to
farm. They raised peanuts, corn, cotton, soy-
beans and hogs. They have many memories of
the great day of picking peanuts, pulling corn
by hand, picking cotton and "hog-killing."

In 1951 Elisha A. Blanchard died. Elisha's
son, William N. Blanchard, had married and
continued to live in the house and to farm this
land which is the only occupation William has
ever had, but with no regrets. No one except a
member of William's family has lived in this
house or farmed this land since 1866.

William's two sisters, a nephew and Wil-
liam still own this property and have many
memories of the family farm.

Submitted by William N. Blanchard

THE CYPRESS GLADE FARM

Cypress Glade has been home to at least
seven generations of Morgans.

Cypress Glade farm homeplace.

Records show that the farm was willed to
James Thomas Morgan born in 1791 by his
parents John and Charity Morgan.

The Morgan homeplace is located in Gates
County in the Corapeake Community about

one and a half miles from the Virginia border.
This area was once part of Nansemond Coun-
ty, Virginia, and records were destroyed dur-
ing the Civil War.

Family stories say that the first Morgan
came here with only a horse and saddle. We
know that the house began small and grew
with each generation. Many births, weddings
and deaths have taken place here. Aunts,
uncles and cousins by the dozens have spent
many happy hours in the spacious old house,
on its cool porches and under the big old trees.

The present owner's mother, Virginia Mar-
ston Morgan, named it Cypress Glade
because of a low area near the house with
beautiful cypress trees.

There are 209 acres and Samuel remembers
walking behind a horse in his youth to till it.
His son, a graduate of North Carolina State
University, has the most modern equipment
and a computer to keep his books.

Peanuts remain the important money crop
but corn, soybeans, wheat, and oats are also
grown. Cotton is being grown again after a
lapse of several years. Hogs still supply cash
flow all through the year. Cattle are raised for
beef but no longer is the milk bucket with its
two inches of "froth" brought to the kitchen.

In a very old notebook are the names of
slaves and their offspring. There is a small
field still referred to as the "Roxanne Cut"
because a slave by that name had a cabin
there.

The old place has seen many changes; each
generation has had its share of the good and
bad seasons but someone has always "hung in
there" and perservered and worked the old
place.

Samuel and Doris Morgan have five chil-
dren and eight grandchildren to carry on the
tradition. Submitted by Samuel Lee Morgan and

Doris Perry Morgan

THE EURE FARM

The farm was given to Catherine Eure and
her husband Boone Eure by her father, Jethro
Eure. They moved to this farm around 1850
and their youngest child, Lemuel, was born
here in 1853.

The Eure farm, Gates, N.C.

Catherine died in January 1 884 and Boone
died in February 1892. When the estate was

100

settled, the farm became the property of their
son, Roscoe Eure, who was born in 1836.

After Roscoe Eure's death in November
1911, the farm became the property of the
youngest child, Lemuel Eure.

Lemuel Eure died in April 1 934 leaving the
estate to his nieces and nephews. The estate
was settled in 1937. According to the deed
which is dated July 6, 1 937, the farm was pur-
chased by Alfred Patrick Rountree and his
wife Annie Margaret Eure Rountree, a grand-
daughter of Catherine and Boone Eure and
the daughter of their son Abram Eure.

On March 2, 1 950 Alfred Patrick Rountree
and his wife, Annie Margaret Eure Rountree,
deeded the farm to their second son, Herbert
Franklin Rountree. He is the present owner
and his home is located on the property near
the site of the original home. The farm has
been in continuous cultivation with corn,
peanuts and soybeans being cultivated at this
time (in 1987).

Located on this farm is the Eure family
cemetery where Catherine and Boone Eure
and all their children were buried.

Submitted by Carolyn R. Eaton

THE EURE-ROUNTREE FARM

The Eure-Rountree Farm is farm #38,
located on the east side of NC Hwy. #37 about
four miles south of Gates, North Carolina and
about four miles north of Gatesville, North
Carolina. It was known as the Abram Eure
place, then the Walter Eure place, and at pres-
ent the Charlie Rountree Home. The commu-
nity in which the farm lies is called Wiggins
Hill. The origin of the name is not known. The
southeast boundary is Wiggins Swamp and at
the bridge of the swamp there is a hill which is
known as Wiggins Hill.

The Eure Rountree homestead located outside of
Gates, N.C.

Abram Eure, 1834-1907, the original own-
er of the farm purchased the land from Samu-
el E. Smith in December 1 856. A bachelor, he
was called to service during the War Between
the States. He was an aide to General Roberts.
At the close of the war he returned home hav- j
ing been wounded. Even with this handicap
and along with extreme poverty which was i
true of most Gates County residents, Eure
was able to operate his farm.

In 1 868 Abram Eure was married to Sarah
Elizabeth Lawrence, the daughter of Mar-
meduke Lawrence whose farm joined the
Eure land on the north and east. The three
children of Abram and Sarah Elizabeth Eure:
Walter L. Eure, Annie Margaret Eure Roun-
tree, and Susie Eure Williams were given a
portion of their grandfather Marmeduke

Gates

Lawrence's land. This land joined the land of
Abram Eure and became a part of his farm.

Abram Eure set aside about an acre of his
land for the purpose of building a school and
with the help of neighbors a one-room log
building was erected and a teacher was
employed. The school was a community-
supported project. All children were privi-
leged to attend even if their parents were not
able to contribute to the support of the school.
In the early 1900s when public schools were
established the log school was replaced with a
one-room frame building. The log school was
moved a short distance to the lot of Abram
Eure's dwelling. It has remained there until
the present time, having been used to store
corn or any other products which were pro-
duced on the farm. Although still standing,
the building is in very poor condition.

Walter L. Eure became the owner and oper-
ator of the farm after the death of his father in
1907. He remained the owner until his death
in 1 945. His wife Maud Sawyer Eure and son
Walter L. Eure lived with him on the farm.

Charlie W. Rountree, grandson of Abram
Eure and son of Annie Eure Rountree and
Alfred P. Rountree, purchased the farm at his
uncle's death. He has lived with his wife and
daughter, Margaret Felton Rountree and
Annie Margaret Rountree since that time.
Although at 86 years of age he no longer culti-
vates the land, it is tended by Lane Farm Sup-
ply and has been in cultivation constantly
since 1856. A scuppernong grapevine planted
by Abram and Sarah Elizabeth Eure in 1868
still bears delicious fruit.

Submitted by Margaret F. Rountree

THE FREEMAN FARM

Edmund James "Ned" and Edith Virginia
Langston Freeman (1853-1934) purchased
this 350 acre farm which was divided by the
state line soon after they married in 1876.
They purchased it from George Bishop, a
New York Yankee, who had passed by it dur-
ing the Civil War. Wheat was growing head
high. After the war he returned to purchase
the farm and tried unsuccessfully to grow
wheat. After his unsuccessful farming adven-
ture he discovered that what he had seen on
his way south was not wheat but broomstraw.
He was glad to divest himself of his farming
interest and return north.

The Joseph Freeman house built in 1820.

The Freemans had eight children: five of
them lived to adulthood. The youngest,
Joseph Ray Freeman (1892-1942), was the
only child to marry. Two of the children,
Hewett and Edith, lived in the homeplace

their entire life. The other two, Lloyd and
John, left home to work but returned home in
their old age. All of the family but Ray are bur-
ied in the family cemetery on the farm.

Edith Freeman, the last child to survive,
died in 1964. The property descended to the
children of Joseph Ray Freeman, namely
Edith Freeman Seiling, Joseph Ray Freeman,
Jr., Julian Freeman and Anita Godwin.
Julian Freeman died in 1985 and his share is
now owned by his heirs.

In 1975 Peggy Seiling, daughter of Edith
Freeman Seiling and her husband Mike
Lefler, purchased the house from the Free-
man heirs.

The house is a unique landmark named the
Freeman/State Line House because it strad-
dles the North Carolina-Virginia line. The
oldest part of the house dates from the eigh-
teenth century and was a one-room house.
The last addition (North Carolina side) was
made about 1830. The earliest documented
ownership was by Samuel Cross who was liv-
ing here in 1817.

The house's surrounding property includes
an extraordinary complement of frame out-
buildings: a tall, gable-roof smokehouse, a
kitchen with an exterior end chimney, a tack
house with attached woodshed, two large
barns and an antebellum stable.

The unique location of the house has added
colorful elements to its history. Edmund J.
Freeman, who lived in the house for forty
years, was a justice of the peace in both states
simultaneously. Young lovers eloping from
each state would come to the house to be mar-
ried in the adjoining state by the same magis-
trate. In the old days, the property was
favored for fighting duels. Duelists would
pair off, one standing in North Carolina, the
other in Virginia. When the opponent fell, the
victor merely stepped across the state line and
gained freedom from arrest. An unusual joint
birthday party celebrated by North Carolina
and Virginia youths born on the same day,
tugs of war across the state line, and the split-
ting of state loyalties among brothers and sis-
ters have become part of the house's lore.

The State Line House was entered in the
National Register of Historic Places in 1982
and is now occupied by Michael and Peggy
Lefler, the great-granddaughter of Edmund J.
Freeman.

One can reserve bed and breakfast accom-
modations at the State Line House by con-
tacting B&B in Albemarle.

Submitted by Edith Freeman Seiling

THE FREEMAN FARM

The Joseph Freeman farm is located in
northern Gates County one mile south of the
North Carolina-Virginia state line near the
community of Reynoldson.

Joseph Freeman (1772-1842), original
owner, was born in Bertie County, North Car-
olina. After the death of his mother he moved
to Gates County to live with his grandfather
and legal guardian, Joseph Speight. In 1799
he married Christine Rawls. Shortly after his
marriage in 1801 he acquired his first land,
105 acres from Bray Saunders and Mary
Bethey.

Joseph was a craftsman and farmer. In the
early 1800s he built furniture and made cof-
fins. He also farmed. In 1820 he built his
home which is known as the Joseph Freeman

house and still stands. By 1 842 when he died
he had acquired approximately 300 acres of
land.

Joseph and Christine were parents of six
children: Elizabeth, Nancy, Martha, Harriet,
Polly and John. Joseph willed his real proper-
ty to his wife for her lifetime and then to his
daughters, who at the time of his death all
remained unmarried. Later one married, but
had no children. Son John had married and
moved to Virginia. He received property
including his father's carpenter tools. John
(1801-1855) had 11 children. His seventh
child, Edmund James Freeman ( 1 844- 1917),
returned to North Carolina to live (Freeman
State Line House).

Joseph Freeman's daughters died between
1883 and 1889. The property was willed to
their nephew, Edmund James "Ned," who
had married a Gates County lady in 1876.

Edith and Edmund James Freeman
("Ned") had purchased the farm on the state
line soon after their marriage in 1876. After
the deaths of the aunts, "Ned" rented the
Reynoldson farm. This couple were parents
of eight children. Five lived to adulthood. The
youngest, Joseph Ray (1892-1942), was the
only child to ever marry. In 1 9 1 5 he married
Virginia Elizabeth Pittman. As bride and
groom they moved to the Joseph Freeman
farm at Reynoldson to live. This couple had
five children: four survived to adulthood.

The last of the Edmund J. Freeman chil-
dren died in 1 964 and the property descended
to the children of Joseph Ray Freeman, name-
ly: Edith Freeman Seiling, Joseph Ray Free-
man Jr., Julian Pittman Freeman and Anita
Godwin. In 1985 Julian died and his interest
in the property descended to his daughter,
Anna Freeman, and his wife, Margaret Free-
man.

The property has been family owned for
188 years, and to date has been inherited by
only four generations. It has been placed on
the National Register study list.

Submitted by Edith Freeman Seiling

THE RIDDICK GATLING, JR.
FARM

John Gatling, who was born prior to 1616,
appears to be the first Gatling to come to
America. William Gatling, who died in 1791,
was his son from whom the present farm was
passed down through the generations.

The earliest records of the Gatling family,
presently in Gates County, appear in the Isle
of Wight County Virginia courthouse. Prior
to the establishment of the boundary line
between North Carolina and Virginia in 1 729
many people living in the northern part of
what is now Gates County were supposed to
be in Virginia but found they were in North
Carolina. This seems to be the case in grants
to the Gatlings for land supposed to have been
in Nansemond County, Virginia.

Due to a lack of records it is difficult to be
sure, but it appears that the line of descent was
from William Gatling, through his son, John,
down to the present generation is correct.
John Gatling's son, James, was the father of
Riddick Gatling, great-grandfather of the
present owner.

Riddick Gatling was born in Gates County,
North Carolina April 1 , 1 797 and died Febru-
ary 16, 1868. Riddick was one of the out-

101

standing men of his day in the county. He
served in the state legislature and was one of
the delegates to the Constitutional Conven-
tion of 1835 from the county. He inherited
and accumulated large holdings of real estate.

Upon his death farms were given to his two
sons, Riddick Gatling, Jr. and John J. Gat-
ling.

After serving as an officer during the Civil
War, and participating in nearly all of the
important battles, Riddick Gatling, Jr.
returned to the family farm. He represented
the county in the state legislature in 1 858 and
1 870. He lived on and cared for the farm until
his death in 1912.

This farm was passed on to Riddick Gat-
ling, Jr.'s son, Gladstone Daughtry Gatling.
He cared for the land and raised corn, beans,
cotton, and peanuts. G.D. Gatling was very
public spirited, concerned about progress in
Gates County and the welfare of its citizens.
He served in the state legislature from the
county in 1 9 1 3, 1 9 1 5, 1 93 1 and 1 933. Upon
his death in 1954 the old Riddick Gatling,
Jr.'s farm passed to his granddaughter and the
daughters of G.D. Gatling: Nina Gatling Par-
ker and Carolyn Gatling Vaughan. It was pur-
chased and presently owned by Nina Gatling
Parker. Submitted by Nina Gatling Parker

THE OLD ROUNTREE FARM

Abner Rountree purchased this farm in
1 800. The deed is dated August 1 1 , 1 800 and
is recorded in the office of the register of deeds
of Gates County. The farm has been in contin-
uous cultivation with corn, peanuts and soy-
beans as the principal crops. Cotton was
grown here and considered an important crop
until about 1950.

The Simmons Rountree house built in 1830, photo-
graphed November 1986.

At Abner Rountree's death in 1816 a por-
tion of land was set aside for a family grave-
yard. This is still maintained as the Rountree
family cemetery. Abner Rountree's older son,
Simmons Rountree, inherited the farm. In
1823 he married Elizabeth Parker Rountree
and they continued to live in the Abner Roun-

Gates

tree house until the early 1830s when Sim-
mons Rountree had a new house built. The
house, a one-room plan house of two stories,
is a three-bay by one-bay, twenty-three foot
by eighteen foot structure with a nine foot
deep shed across the rear. The stair rises along
the rear wall of the parlor to the corner where
it turns with winders and continues to the sec-
ond story. The parlor has plastered walls and
ceiling, much of which has fallen, and a wains-
coat featuring a single board about twenty-
two inches in width with plain mitered sur-
roundings. A porch with plain Doric pillars
supporting a shed roof was added probably
sometime in the 1850s by Simmons Roun-
tree's son, Alfred Gatling Rountree.

Simmons Rountree and his wife died with-
in ten days of each other in March 1850.
When the estate was settled, the farm was
deeded to their older son Alfred Gatling
Rountree (1826-1907) who, in May 1850
married Rebecca Eason Rountree (1830-
1917). They became the parents of eleven
children born between 1851 and 1875.

Prior to Alfred Gatling Rountree's death,
he deeded the farm to his youngest child,
Alfred Patrick Rountree, who had married
Annie Eure Rountree on March 7, 1 900. They
began their married life in the home of his
elderly parents. It was here that their first two
children were born — Charlie Walter Roun-
tree born January 7, 1 90 1 and Herbert Frank-
lin Rountree born September 29, 1902. Both
of them now own and reside on century farms.
Charlie has the farm of their grandparents
Abram and Sarah Elizabeth Eure, and Her-
bert has the farm of their great-grandparents,
Boone and Catherine Eure.

In 1902 Alfred Patrick Rountree and his
wife, Annie, purchased an adjoining tract of
land, and in 1904 had a house built near the
end of the private lane. This became known as
the A. P. Rountree homeplace. They moved
into their new home just before Christmas
1904 and their third child, Gladys Rebecca
Rountree, was born January 25, 1905. But
sadness came to this young family when little
Gladys Rebecca died of pneumonia on April
6, 1906. Their fourth child, Dillard Milton
Rountree born April 23, 1909 inherited the
A. P. Rountree homeplace and resides in the
home.

After Alfred Gatling Rountree's death on
March 16, 1907, his widow, Rebecca Eason
Rountree, moved to the home of her youngest
child, Alfred Patrick Rountree where she
lived until her death on November 4, 1917.
Even though the Simmons Rountree house
has stood unoccupied since the death of
Alfred Gatling Rountree in March of 1907, it
is in a remarkable state of repair.

Alfred Patrick Rountree died August 25,
1955 and in accordance with his will, at the
death of his widow Annie Eure Rountree on
April 2, 1961, the custodianship of the old
Rountree homeplace passed to their fifth and
youngest child, Annie Elizabeth Rountree.

Submitted by Elizabeth Rountree

THE STALLINGS FARM

The William and Martha Eason Stallings
farm is located in Gates and Perquimans
Counties in the Sandy Cross Community and
includes some of the Dismal Swamp. The
farm was purchased in 1850. Following the
deaths of William and Martha a division was

The Stallings family early 1940s — L to R: Eva
Ward, Lester, Ruth, Maxine, and Thomas J.

made and farm ownership was passed to their
son, William Thomas Stallings, and their
daughter, Martha Jane Stallings Nixon. Dur-
ing their ownership several acres were sold to
the Farmers Manufacturing Company which
operated a barrel stave mill known as Gum
Mill. The Norfolk and Southern Railroad
built a train track through the farm. The main
track ran from Suffolk, Virginia to Edenton,
North Carolina, and the line through the farm
was a branch from Beckford to Elizabeth
City. The train stop at Gum Mill was known
as Peach Siding.

Thomas Judson Stallings (Tommie), the
second oldest son of William Thomas and
Mary Baker Stallings, served in France during
World War I. In 1919 he married Eva Ward
and at the death of his father purchased the
farm from his family. During his farming
years he purchased the portions of the original
farm that belonged to his aunt, Martha Jane
Nixon, the Farmers Manufacturing Compa-
ny, and the Norfolk Southern Railroad.

Tommie and Eva Stallings willed the farm
to their three children, Lester W. Stallings,
Ruth S. Sovelius, and Maxine S. Wiggins. In
1986 Maxine and her husband, Marvin S.
Wiggins, purchased entire ownership.

Submitted by Maxine S. Wiggins

THE STORY FARM

The Story family century farm is located
approximately three miles north of the Cho-
wan River in Gates County on Highway 13
and 158.

The Story family home.

James Bennett Story from Southampton
County, Virginia married Frances Ann Cross
of Gates County on January 6, 1846. They
bought land from her mother, Mrs. Charity
Barnes Cross, and built a house on the Sand
Banks Road about a mile west of the present

102

Gates — Graham — Granville

home. They were the parents of six sons and
two daughters, four of whom (Duke, Molly,
Edward C. and Peter) spent their entire lives
on the family farm. One of these sons was E. A.
(Duke) Story who lived to be 1 06 years of age.

Mr. Story and his sons farmed approxi-
mately 125-150 acres. They grew cotton,
corn, peanuts and one year, rice. They also
raised cattle, hogs, horses and chickens. They
built the first silo in Gates County. In the mid
1800s they built and operated a water pow-
ered sawmill and cotton gin. In the 1 880s they
built a steam powered sawmill, planing mill
and gristmill just west of the present house.
The family continued to operate these mills
until the 1950s.

The second and present family home con-
taining seven bedrooms was built in 1887.
The weatherboarding was sawed at the water
mill and hand planed by James B. Story. The
site of this home was originally the location of
Mrs. Story's mother's home. Mrs. Charity B.
Cross had lived at this location since 1 832.

The family property consists of approxi-
mately 500 acres of timber, mainly pine. A
few virgin pines still stand. Hurricane Hazel
in 1954 blew down 500,000 feet of these
pines. Part of the farm was allowed to return
to forest and only 54 acres are in cultivation at
the present. Corn, peanuts and soybeans are
grown by the current owner, Edward P. Story,
a grandson of James B. Story. His son,
Edward S. Story and family also live on the
family land and he farms.

Submitted by Edward P. Story

Graham County

THE BLANKENSHIP FARM

My family first came into possession of the
land on which our farm resides in 1 840. Abra-
ham Wiggins took possession of the land by
grant. From this beginning the land passed
from Abraham Wiggins to his daughter, Lava-
da Evyline Wiggins in 1874. Lavada married
Harvey Hyde. They had two daughters, Mary
Magdalene and Martha Hyde. Mary Magda-
lene married George Thomas Roberts on Sep-
tember 23, 1896. They had eight children. I
was born Amanda Gertrude Roberts on June
23, 1915, the youngest of eight children.

Wilson Blankenship and his mules, 1946.

The land has been greatly divided from the
time of the original land grant. A portion of
the original land grant was given for the first
cemetery at the Old Mother Church, which
soon will be 1 1 6 years old. The original grant
extended from within the Robbinsville city
limits past our current residence, which is two
miles outside of town.

On October 22, 1943 I married Wilson W.
Blankenship from Madison County. At the
time of our marriage Wilson was in the ser-
vice and I remained living with my parents
while continuing my career teaching in the
Graham County school system. In 1945 Wil-
son was discharged from the service and
entered agricultural training. We continued
living with my parents until Wilson, much
through his own labor, built our house that we
currently reside in. It was built from granite
surface stone taken from out of Graham
County and timber taken from our own farm.
Our house was completed in 1951 and we
entered our permanent residence.

Through the years Wilson has continued to
farm the land, clearing much of the original
timber to make room for fields for our live-
stock. We primarily raised Black Angus beef
cattle, but the farm also supported a limited
milk, poultry, and pork production. Also
present on the farm were mules, standard
bred plow horses, and Appaloosa horses for
pleasure riding. The farm also contained a
large vegetable garden which provided
income as well as food for our table. In the ear-
lier days a large amount of corn was tended as
feed for the livestock. This practice was large-
ly discontinued with the introduction of mod-
ern hay harvesting methods. Burley tobacco
was the only crop raised for cash production,
with two barns used for drying the yield of an
approximate one-half acre allotment.

Through the years our farm has operated as
a family farm with very little hired labor, as
the majority of the work has been performed
by my husband, myself, and our children. I
continued my teaching career at Robbinsville
until 1977 at which time I retired with 45
years service.

We have continued to express the impor-
tance of the land to our four children, and
have demonstrated this with our caring of the
property. With the purchase of my sister's
inheritance, we have retained approximately
seventy-five percent of my parents original
holdings to pass on to our children. It is my
belief, and I hope the belief of my children,
that few things have the importance of land
and nothing is as permanent as land.

Submitted by Amanda Roberts Blankenship

Granville County

THE ANDERSON S PLACE FARM

This farm is a thirty acre tract of land locat-
ed in southern Granville County, formerly
owned and farmed by the late Anderson
Fletcher Breedlove, maternal grandfather of
the current owner, Daniel Anderson Hunt. It
lies adjacent to a tract of about 1 00 acres for-
merly owned by his wife, Alletta Usry

9

i

1

I

n

— v .

— , tW'

1

Anderson 's Place farm, Franklinton, N.C.

Breedlove, and both tracts were farmed
almost as a single unit.

The major crop was tobacco. Other crops
included cotton, corn, wheat, oats, vegeta-
bles, beef and swine. Today it has about 160
pecan trees, 40 fruit trees, a small vineyard
and about 1 5 acres in young pines.

The original farmhouse, a log cabin, was
built in 1 903 and enlarged to include a parlor,
upstairs bedroom, dining room and kitchen,
as the family of six daughters and one son
came along. It was demolished in 1 982 and a
new home built adjacent to the original site.

Sales recorded: Martha Ann Usry Harris to
Mary A. Harris Usry — November 2, 1882;
Mary A. Harris Usry to Anderson Fletcher
Breedlove — December 27, 1902; Anderson
Fletcher Breedlove to Norma Shore
Breedlove — April, 1937; Norma Shore
Breedlove to Daniel Anderson Hunt and Jean
B. Hunt — January 1975; and date of pur-
chase by Martha Ann Usry Harris has not
been determined at this time.

Submitted by Daniel A. Hunt

THE BLACKWELL FARM

The James/Robert V. Blackwell farm is
located in the Mountain Creek Community
twelve miles northwest of Oxford, North Car-
olina. The exact location is where the Buck
Hart Road (SR 1 4 1 1 ) intersects with the Sam
Blackwell Road (SR 1414).

The Blackwell home near Oxford, N. C.

James Blackwell, born in 1803, moved to
this farm from the Oak Hill High School (now
Camp Oak Hill) area where his father lived
when he married in 1836. He first lived in a
house still standing one-half mile northeast of
the present homeplace at the present (1988)
Calvin and Foy Blackwell Hart Farm.

James moved to the SR 1 4 1 1 -SR 1 4 1 4 loca-
tion around 1 850 apparently to be closer to a
wheat and corn gristmill, his father John had
built on Grassy Creek in 1801. A store was
also located at this site on the edge of Grassy
Creek, two-tenths of a mile southeast of the
homeplace location. The millstones are the
present steps to the Fred Blackwell house (the
homeplace) and a picnic table top at a house
built in 1 98 1 by Roy Blackwell within 50 feet
of the old mill site on Grassy Creek.

George Blackwell, a deaf mute, and brother
of Sam, Fred, Roy and Lelia B. Williams ran
a Texaco service station at the homeplace
from 1 933 to 1 975. The first store (still stand-
ing) was replaced by a cinder block store
across the road that was run by Fred Blackwell
after George Blackwell's death in 1975.

James Blackwell ( 1 803- 1 880) married Pol-
ly Ann Vass (1819-1906), June 1, 1836.

103

James' brothers and sisters were Robert,
Fleming, William, Samuel, John, Pomfret,
Polly, Frances and Ann. James and Polly's
children were Henry, Maurice, Richard T.,
Robert V., Rebecca, Mary Ella, Reubin, Rose,
Mary, James and Betty. Robert Vass Black-
well (1852-1943) and Lettie Eakes (1875-
1933) were the parents of Robert Samuel,
Lelia, Fred, Roy and George. Robert Samu-
el's children were Violet (Coats), Bradsher,
Rose (Wilson), and Lucy (Wright). Lelia's
children were Duane (Kernakis) and Letty
Ann (Morris). Fred's children were Betty
(Coats) and Barbara (Wilson). Roy's children
were James A., Robert P. and Gary. George
was never married.

Submitted by Fred Blackwell

THE BOBBITT FARM

The Bobbitt farm, located on Hester Road,
was purchased from W. White in 1 845 by Wil-
liam Alexander Bobbitt. He and Jacksey
Mitchell were married in 1842. The Bobbitts
had six children: Phillip Sydney, India, Ella,
Sarah, Delia, and Alexander Edward.

L to R: Alexander Edward Bobbitt, Josie Shore Bob-
bitt (son), and Annie Laura Turner Bobbitt. Man
partially seen in background holding horse, Dixie, is
Henry McGhee.

Phillip Sydney was killed in the Battle of
Gettysburg. Alexander Edward and Annie
Laura Turner were married in 1885 at the
Turner home. He added small acreages to the
original farm. He served as Granville County
Treasurer and was active in the Democratic
Party and Banks Methodist Church.

The A.E. Bobbitts had five children. They
were Lelia, Willie, Brooks and Josie. One died
in infancy.

The farm was tended by the family until the
death of Willie in 1965. It has been rented
since then. Three generations of three black
families: the Whites, the Fullers and the
Taborns lived and worked on this farm. Four
generations of the Bobbitt family have lived
on this farm through the years.

The farm home was occupied by a family
member until 1981. Frank and Ruth Bobbitt
Parrott acquired land from the family and
live on a portion of the original farm.

The present owners are Anne B. Murphy,
daughter of Josie Shore and Gladys Blackley
Bobbitt, and Ruth B. Parrott and Naomi B.
Jackson, daughters of Lemon Brooks and
Florence Moss Bobbitt.

The buildings on the farm offered a never-
ending source of pleasure for me as a child fif-
ty years ago. They were: a steam pit for tobac-
co, a tobacco grading and tying house, a
tobacco storage house (formerly a tobacco
factory), six tobacco curing barns, three ten-
ant houses, a small house with a Delco plant,

Granville

a smokehouse, a stable, a corn crib, a wash-
house, a cow stable, chicken houses, two
garages, a shelter for stove wood, a shelter for
my grandmother's carriage and the garden
house (privy with five holes graduated in size
for three generations). For the adults, the
buildings represented a never ending source
of work, worry, and joy when things went
well. They also helped preserve a continuity
with our past.

Submitted by Anne Bobbitt Murphy

THE DICKERSON FARM

Records show a large tract of 4,500 acres of
land owned by Colonel John Dickerson in the
Fishing Creek township area of Granville
County as early as 1754. A thorough search
has not been made, but all evidence including
location of this original tract indicates that
the Jack Thomas Dickerson farm, now owned
by his wife, Elsie Brooks Dickerson, was a
part of this same tract.

The verified records begin November 1,
1 878 when Samuel Walker Dickerson, who at
one time owned over 900 acres in Granville
County, sold 139 acres to his son Andrew
Jackson Dickerson. Andrew J. was a farmer
and merchant until his death on March 1,
1928.

When the Seaboard Coastline Railroad
came to Granville County in the early 1 900s,
he gave them a right of way across his land
knowing that a depot in this community
would be of great benefit to everyone in the
surrounding area.

Upon his death the land was divided
among his five children. His sons, Carroll R.
and Andrew F., received 52 acres each with
Carroll R. receiving the tract of land that
included the homeplace. The rest of the land
was divided between his three daughters with
them receiving money in addition to the land
to make the division of the estate equal.

In October, 1 952 Carroll R. sold the home-
place and fifteen additional acres to his neph-
ew, Jack Thomas Dickerson, and his wife,
Elsie Brooks Dickerson. Jack Thomas Dick-
erson died November 24, 1985 leaving the
farm to his wife, Elsie Brooks Dickerson.

All four generations of Dickersons have
raised their families farming this land with
tobacco as the primary cash crop. Other crops
grown on this farm have included corn, grain
and soybeans.

These men took pride in farming as an
occupation and enjoyed the work farming
involves. The family hopes the farm will
remain in the Dickerson family for years to
come and that farming will always be a proud
part of North Carolina's heritage.

Submitted by Jack Thomas Dickerson

THE HANEY FARM

This farm is located ten miles west of
Oxford in the Culbreth Cross Roads Commu-
nity in Granville County. The farm consists
of 452 acres purchased by Simon Clement in
1777 who came to this area from Amelia
Courthouse, Virginia. Little is known about
him except what can be learned from land
deeds. He lived until about 1 820. That fact is
derived from the deeds showing William
Clement (1793-1 889), his son, as owner about
that time.

The Haney farm near Oxford, N.C.

William Clement and his wife, Jane Gooch,
had a number of sons and daughters. At his
death his three unmarried daughters, Han-
nah, Harriet and Mary, inherited the place.
They bargained with their nephew, Edwin N.
Clement (1875-1955) to live and care for
them and to eventually own the place. At his
death his widow, Linda Lyon Clement (1881-
1969), owned the place until 1967 when she
sold it to her husband's niece, Serena Mead-
ows Haney, and her husband, J.B., who pres-
ently owns it.

As for the farm itself, it has been used over
the years for the production of tobacco, food,
fiber, livestock on a small scale and lumber
and wood products. Due to present economic
conditions, land is being taken out of crop
production, planted in pines and other con-
servation practices. It has not been given over
to lot development for residential uses.

To attempt to give a history of Simon Clem-
ent's descendants would require a large
volume. Some live in New York, Virginia,
Tennessee, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Cali-
fornia and other southern states. They are
regarded as law-abiding community leading
citizens. Submitted by J.B. Haney

THE HARRIS FARM

On September 14, 1837 John G. Harris
and James C. Cozart bought a tract of land
from Samuel S. Downey. They registered it in
the registry office of Granville County, Book
9, page 63. After John Harris died, Amos F.
Harris inherited the land in its entirety. In
1932, Lillie S. Harris, the mother of Hunter
Harris and Wallace Harris, bought the land
from her husband's estate.

In 1966 Hunter and Wallace inherited the
land (112 acres) from their mother. Wallace
sold his inheritance, but Hunter retained his.
A portion of Wallace's land was purchased by
his nephew, Amos H. Harris.

Seventy years ago the public road went
right by the house. At some point they moved
the road up the river. Then Amos bought 27
acres from his brother facing the new road.
When they moved the road frontage again up
the river further, Amos lost road frontage
again.

Sometime in the 1950s, the Harris home
went on a petition with B.S. Murray the other
way. Hunter has been everywhere trying to get
a road. He has been to the ASCS office, but
they say they can't help.

There are five landowners that have ease-
ment and use of the road, but Hunter is the
only one that takes care of the road because he
needs it to get to his farm.

104

Granville

There are 26 century farms in Granville
County. Hunter wrote to them and all except
one has road frontage kept up by the state.
Hunter has been going through Thad Carey's
place for the last 70 years and now Mrs. B.S.
Murray's son, Foy Murray, has cut a ditch
with a backhoe so Hunter can't get in there.

Hunter hasn't attended to the farm in the
last two years because he can't get in except by
walking and he is unable to do that. Hunter
feels bad about the way he has been treated,
but thinks there isn't anything he can do.
Hunter has lost the road three times in the last
seventy years. He didn't have anything to do
with it. The state and county did it. The third
time the road was lost Thad Carey's heirs had
been using the road for 1 00 years. Thad Carey
and B.S. Murray petitioned together with the
Daniel's and got the road their way and left
Hunter out. Hunter has been paying taxes on
the land for seventy years, and he feels that he
has gotten nothing for it. Everyone else has
benefitted. Submitted by Hunter Harris

THE HARRIS FARM

Thomas D. Harris married on December
10, 1850 and settled on a farm in Fishing
Creek Township, Granville County, North
Carolina. To these inherited acres he contin-
ued to add to his landholdings until there were
550 acres. At his death the land went to his
wife and two sons, Henry Willis Harris and
Edward Clark Harris. Henry Willis was an
incompetent young man and his brother
Edward C. Harris, looked after his interest
until he died. At this time Edward Clark Har-
ris inherited the entire farm, his step-mother
having died earlier. Some time after Edward
inherited the land, he sold off around one
hundred acres.

The Harris farm, Oxford, N.C.

On December 1, 1886 Mr. Harris married
Susan Barnes and they had eleven children,
eight of whom lived to reach an adult age. Of
these children only one remained on the farm
to earn his living, Richard Watts Harris.
Richard had three children and two of these
children presently own around 350 acres of
the original tract of land owned by Thomas D.
Harris. These two are great-grandchildren of
Thomas D. Harris. They are Richard Watts
Harris, Jr. and Sue Margaret Harris King,
both living in Granville County. Another
great-grandson, Reid Barnes Patterson of
Salisbury, North Carolina still retains his
mother's share of this land.

There is one very old building still standing
on the home site. It is known to the family as
the "old store house," having been used as a
large country store and the Tabbs Creek Post

Office. One room in this building was used as
a schoolroom for the Harris children and the
children of a neighboring family. A teacher
was hired for four months out of the year and
lived in the Harris home which was known as
Hillcrest Farm. The two original home houses
have been destroyed by fire in years past.

The present owners hope to retain these
acres. At present the land is being used for
growing tobacco and small grain and a few
head of cattle. Submitted by Richard Harris.Jr.

THE HUNT FARM

When the Usries first owned this farm,
corn, cotton, tobacco, wheat, cane and vege-
tables were grown. The original log house still
stands made of hand hewed logs and chinked
with the dirt from the farm. The arrangement
of the house inside is quite unusual.

According to stories passed down by family
members, this farm was in the Usry bloodline
way before April 1 8, 1 899 when Hanson Har-
ris deeded it to Betty I. Usry. In 1889 it was
deeded to Alletta Usry Breedlove and
remained in her estate until November 6,
1975 when it was purchased by F. Earle and
Nan G. Hunt. Earle Hunt is the son of Addie
Breedlove Hunt who was the daughter of
Alletta Usry Breedlove.

Submitted by F. Earle and Nan G. Hunt

Mr. and Mrs. John W. Lawrence on the front porch
of their two-story white frame house located on State
Road 1 700 in Granville County.

THE HUSKETH FARM

According to family and Granville County
records, the land now owned by Alma
Ormond Husketh (103.9 acres) and Craig
Moss Husketh (47.5 acres) was a part of a par-
cel of land purchased from the Earl of Gran-
ville by William Lawrence in 1 756.

County records show that in the 1 840s John
P. Lawrence owned these acres. In 1 875 John
W. Lawrence, his son, became the owner. He
and his wife, Mary Eliza Clay Lawrence, built
a two-story white frame house with the kitch-
en in another building. He and his wife reared

great-grandson, Edward Thomas Husketh, Jr.
and his wife. Alma Ormond Husketh, bought
the 1 54 acres in 1 947. She was a teacher until
1980.

Continuing to produce tobacco and grains,
the Huskeths repaired the outbuildings, add-
ed a pond, and completely remodeled the
house. They reared three sons (E.T. Ill, Wil-
liam Ormond, and Craig Moss) on this farm
known as the Lawrence Hill. E.T. Husketh, Jr.
died in 1986. His widow and two sons reside
on this farm located on State Road 1700,
known as Brassfield Road, Route 1, Creed-
moor. Submitted by Alma Ormond Husketh

Halter Benjamin Lane, father of Ralph H. Lane, is the boy in front of the fence with his steer.

eleven children on this farm, producing
tobacco, grains, and much of their food. At his
death John W. Lawrence left his property to
his wife with the stipulation that the home-
place at her death go to their unmarried
daughters and a granddaughter. Soon after
the mother's death, her son, Marshall V.,
bought his sisters' interest. Many tenants
farmed this land until John P. Lawrence's

THE LANE FARM

From the early 1800s William James
Mitchell owned land in Granville County
south of the Tar River to and including what
is now known as Mayfield Mountain. The
Benjamin Franklin Lane family has owned
land in the same area for a hundred years.
These two families intermarried in 1917

when Ruth Bryan Mitchell married Walter
Benjamin Lane, my mother and father.

These properties were located in Brassfield
Township, Banks and Grove Hill United
Methodist Church areas. The families being
among the founders and members of both
churches.

Over the years, there was a tobacco factory,
cotton gin, wine press and private school
along with the life-sustaining farm products.
The tobacco factory was owned by my grand-
father, Alonzo Mitchell, the drummer was
Benjamin Franklin Lane, also my grandfa-
ther. The products were sold or traded mainly
in the eastern part of North Carolina and Vir-
ginia. As a result, annually a herd of stock con-
sisting of horses, mules, cows, sheep and goats
would have to be driven by farm hands from
the east to the piedmont for conditioning and
resale. The tobacco factory burned in 1904
and was not replaced.

Presently located on this property are sev-
eral of the original buildings. The Lane home-
place built prior to 1 868, the old kitchen built
prior to the Civil War, the smokehouse built
in 1 882, a log barn built in 1919 and another
in 1 940. There are, to my knowledge, seven
freshwater springs with one tributary having
the rock foundation for the kettle of a whiskey
still, the sight dating back before any family
member could remember.

At an early age my interest in farming and
forestry lead me in 1 945-46, at the ag~ of 1 1 ,
to plant my first pine seedlings on part of this
land. Since that time through studying at
North Carolina State University and training
with the NCFS, I have made it my life's work
with my family. As a result this land, some
220 acres is still operated as a tobacco, small
grain and tree farm.

Submitted by Ralph H. Lane.

THE JOHN P. LAWRENCE FARM

The 1 843 Granville County tax logs report
that John Pruitt Lawrence (1806-1887), who
was married to Frances Bullock ( 1 809- 1 864),
owned 550 acres of land in what is now Brass-
field Township. Inexact property descrip-
tions make it impossible to determine wheth-
er the house built by John P. and Frances B.
Lawrence around 1 840 was built on part of
the 605 acre land grant that William Law-
rence (great-grandfather of John P. Law-
rence) purchased from the Earl of Granville in
1756 or on one of the four tracts of land
acquired by John P. Lawrence in the 1830s
and included in the aforementioned 1 843 tax
list.

Nonetheless, the Greek Revival home built
by John P. and Frances B. Lawrence in 1840
still stands on a 290 acre tract of land which
has remained in the family for four genera-
tions, and maybe seven generations if the
property could be traced back to the 1756
grant. The Lawrences passed it on to their
daughter, Virginia (1846-1934), who was
married to Lewis H. Moss (1842-1909), who
in turn transferred it to their daughter, Lillian
(1882-1965) married to Edward Thomas
Husketh, Sr. (1862-1935). The property is
now owned by Robinette M. Husketh, the
widow of their son, Ben Lawrence Husketh,
who acquired it from his parents.

Known as the John P. Lawrence Planta-
tion, the 290 acre tract of land, the century
farm land, has historically nourished its

Granville

The John P. Lawrence plantation built in about
1840.

tobacco and other crops and provided the set-
ting for the two-story antebellum residence
and its surrounding outbuildings, including
the antebellum Greek Revival style smoke-
house and kitchen. Probably the most unusu-
al outbuilding is a one-room private school
house whose structure suggests it was built
shortly after the Civil War. It is known to have
been used as a schoolhouse in the late nine-
teenth century.

The present farm consists of approximately
50 acres of cropland — chief crops being
tobacco, soybeans and grain — and 240 acres
of timberland. Since the death of her husband
in 1 98 1 , Robinette M. (Mrs. Ben L.) Husketh
has rented the cropland to other farmers, but
she remains actively involved in soil conser-
vation and timberland management prac-
tices.

This century farm, the John P. Lawrence
Plantation, is located in Brassfield Township,
Granville County, on SR 1 700 approximately
one mile west of NC96. Though originally
designated a century farm by its owner Ben L.
Husketh, it is now owned by his widow, Robi-
nette M. Husketh.

The John P. Lawrence Plantation house
with its contributing outbuildings was
entered in the National Register of Historic
Plans in August 1988.

Submitted by Robinette M. Husketh

THE MAY FARM

Since about 1875 four generations of Mays
have been landowners and farmers in Gran-
ville County in the Pocomoke area on the
same tract of land.

Mrs. J O. May with daughters, Betty and Linda.

In the 1 800s James (Jim) Thomas May and
Samuel Thomas Davis married sisters,
Amanda and Iola Jackson. They bought
adjoining farms. The Davises and Mays cele-

brated their 50th wedding anniversaries in
the summer of 1 935.

James Otis May, son of Jim May, and Min-
nie Lee Broughton were married on February
16, 1935. J.O. May inherited part of the S.T.
Davis and J.T. May farms. He bought addi-
tional land from Claude Garner and owned a
total of 2 1 7 acres. J.O. May built his home, a
country grocery and gas station, tobacco
barns, storage houses, three ponds for fishing
and irrigation. He planted tobacco, cotton,
corn, soybeans and grain crops. In addition to
cash crops he also planted truck crops and
sold peas, beans, etc. Through the years, the
May family including children Betty, Linda
and Jimmy enjoyed growing gardens, fruit
trees, fishing and hunting on their farm.

J.O. May and Minnie B. May celebrated
their 50th wedding anniversary on February
16, 1985. They had six grandchildren. J.O.
May died July 27, 1 986 at the age of 79. His
wife continues to live on the farm as well as his
son, James O. May, Jr. (Jimmy), and his fami-
ly who have a home on their tract of the farm.
Since the mid- 1 960s the farm was operated by
the husband of Betty May Mitchell, Fred O.
Mitchell. The farm is now divided into four
tracts and Betty May Mitchell continues to
operate her tract as a farm, and James O. May,
Jr. plans to grow timber on his tract. Linda
May Coffey has timber also.

Submitted by James O. May

THE MOORE FAMILY FARM

In 1779 George Lain (Lane) Moore was
granted 500 acres lying along the ledge of
Rock Creek in Granville County by the Earl
of Granville. This land has been in the Moore
family ever since. It is located on the Stem-
Creedmoor Road and adjoins the town of
Stem city limits. In 1 779 there was no town of
Stem but a stagecoach stop known as "Tally-
Ho" was (and still is) located nearby.

It is believed that George L. Moore had set-
tled on this land some years before the grant
was made. He came to North Carolina from
England via Maryland.

George Lain (Lane) left the place to one
son, John, who lived on the land and reared a
large family. He willed the property, includ-
ing his slaves, to his son, Hester, who married
Ann Eliza Whitfield from the Franklinton
area. Two of their sons died in the Civil War,
near Richmond, Virginia. The property was
willed to their youngest, Henry Flavius, who
married Louetta Clark. They reared ten chil-
dren but he died in 1 924 leaving the property
to his widow stating the land was to be sold at
her death. She died in 1 952 and the children,
all survivors, who agreed each to receive one-
tenth interest in the property. The result is
that now having bought the shares from oth-
ers, Emma Moore Summers owns the remain-
ing 208.8 acres with her husband.

Submitted by Mr. and Mrs. George B. Summers

THE CLAUDE A. PARHAM HEIRS
FARM

Claude Aaron Parham was the son of Allen
and Kitty Lewis Parham. Allen Parham was
the son of Steven Parham, a slave. Allen was
a small boy when slavery ended, and he
remembered running around playing in the
kitchen in which his mother cooked the
meals.

106

Granville

L to R: Mrs. Julia P. Lottier, Mrs. Wanda L. Boone,
Mrs. Mary I. Parham. Grandsons: Ryan C. Lottier
(tallest), Shawn C. Lottier, and Claude P. Murrell
(shortest).

Grandpa Allen, sometimes called Papa,
was an ambitious farmer. He plowed a pair of
oxen, raised corn, tobacco, cane, wheat, vege-
tables, cows, pigs and chickens. He planted
apple, peach and pear trees, as well as scup-
pernong grapevine which still furnishes deli-
cious grapes. He owned a cider mill and made
good apple cider. In later years Papa replaced
then oxen with horses and mules. One horse,
whose name was "ole Annie" was hitched to
a buggy and this was their means of transpor-
tation.

Papa was always an early riser so he could
begin to plow, clear the land and do other
farm work. He and his brother-in-law would
meet in the dark by a tree and one would say
to the other, "Is that you?"

Papa purchased land from Edd Harris, the
Pleasants landowners, his brother, George,
and Jane Parham, and other property and
landowners in Oxford. Other land was pur-
chased by my father, Claude, from his cous-
ins, Thomas and Edd Parham, and rental
houses were built.

The Claude A. Parham farm consists of 1 23
acres of land in the Antioch Community.
Papa purchased a black auto in the early
1920s. Allen and Kitty Parham were the par-
ents of Claude A. Parham (1884-1949) and
Julia Parham (1882-1917).

They provided education for Claude, my
father, who was a farmer, later a farm manag-
er and a businessman with rental property in
the city and county; and for their daughter,
Julia, who taught in the public schools of
North Hampton and Granville Counties.

The family house which was built in 1 878 is
still standing and has been remodeled three or
four times within the past one hundred and
eleven years. It is a two-story 1 4-room frame
house with white aluminum siding, 2 bath-
rooms, insulation, electric heat, air condi-
tioning and a greenhouse on the patio.

Some of the old farm buildings still existing
are the smokehouse, the garage, the tobacco
barn, the strip house, and the stable.

My parents, Claude Aaron and Mary Eliza-
beth Hamme, were married in a church wed-
ding in 1 9 1 6 in June. My father conducted the
family business and my mother taught in the
public schools of Oxford, Granville and Wil-
son Counties until her retirement in 1950.
After my father's passing in 1 949, my mother
saw that she was needed to carry on the busi-
ness at home.

My parents educated all three of their
daughters who all earned their B.S. and B.A.
degrees. The youngest also earned a Master's

degree. Mary Irene Parham, the oldest,
earned a B.S. in Home Economics at Bennett
College and was the Home Economics Exten-
sion Agent in Granville County, a first in that
black position for 32 years. Julia Elizabeth
Parham Lottier earned a B.A. degree in ele-
mentary education at Fayetteville State Uni-
versity. She was a teacher in Granville County
and Cleveland, Ohio. Claudia Esther Parham
Murrell earned a B.S. and M.S. degree in
health and physical education and special
education in Nashville, Tennessee at Tennes-
see A. & I. State University.

Granddaughter and grandson are gradu-
ates of Tennessee A&I State University.
Granddaughter Wanda Lottier Boone
received a B.S. and Masters degree; and
grandson Claude Parham Murrell received a
B.S. from Tennessee A.&I. University. Both
grandsons, Claude and Chester M. Lottier,
are in business. There are three great-
grandsons, ages seven, ten, and thirteen.

The antique house has some antique furni-
ture in it and this has been refinished by Irene,
the present occupant.

Submitted by Mary Irene Parham

THE PERRY FARM

Since the mid-1 700s the Fuller name has
been known near Cedar Creek around what is
now the Granville and Franklin County line.
Another well-known name to the area was
Kearney.

Great-great-grandmother, Ann Kearney Fuller;
great-grandfather, George Ruffin Fuller; and his sec-
ond wife, Victoria Fuller, in 1910.

Records indicate that Henry Fuller (great-
great-grandfather) married Ann Kearney
(great-great-grandmother) on December 23,
1 857. From this marriage three children were
born; George Ruffin, Emma, and Ella. This
being during the days of the Civil War,
Grandpa Henry became a Confederate sol-
dier. He was mortally wounded with head
injuries. When grandma Ann received the
saddening news, she ventured into the Virgin-
ia countryside on horse and wagon in hopes of
finding grandpa Henry. Needless to say all
was in vain. In despair, she returned home to
her children never to know the fate of her hus-
band. Many years later, even after her death,
his grave was located in the Hollywood Con-
federate Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia.

In 1869 grandma Ann purchased from her
father, George D. Kearney, a parcel of land
"120 acres" for $100 in Granville County
near Pocomoke. Here she lived with the chil-
dren, built a small log house, and farmed the
land. As time progressed she built a larger
house nearby which still stands. In later years,

she married Tom Brinkley who was the wid-
ower of her sister Susan.

George Fuller married Emma Mitchell on
December 20, 1885. They lived near Wilton
and later moved back to his home. In 1895
Emma died, leaving George with five small
children to raise. Grandma Ann took charge
and helped raise her grandchildren; Fleming,
Burley, Lola, Audrey, and Lallie. The farm
was officially bought by George on June 19,
1912 after the death of grandma Ann.

For a short while no family members lived
on the farm. Grandpa George's children were
grown and leading their own lives. Lallie mar-
ried John Wesley Wheelous from the Grissom
area. Audrey married Morton Bailey and in
1 92 1 the " 1 20 acre" farm was sold by the oth-
er children with Lallie and Audrey purchasing
equal parts. Lallie's 84 acres included the
original home site. Audrey's 86 acres includ-
ed a fairly new tenant house.

John and Lallie farmed the land with their
five children: Adelle "Sister," John Jr.
"Brother," Hortense, Ginnada and Correen
"Mutt." The crops were mainly cotton, corn,
tobacco, hay and vegetables, with livestock
being cows, chickens, and hogs. The death of
grandfather John in 1944 brought more
changes. Their children also had gone their
separate ways. Adelle married George Thom-
as "Tom" Perry and they were tenant farmers
in Franklin and Granville Counties. Grand-
mother Lallie sold the farm to Adelle and
Tom in 1945.

Tom and Adelle continued farming and
also raised four children: George Thomas, Jr.
"G.T.", Kenneth, Joan and Sammy. In 1961
Tom died and several years later due to eco-
nomic conditions and changing times, farm-
ing ceased to be the main source of income for
the Perry household. Adelle sought employ-
ment at John Umstead Hospital, and the farm
was leased to E.T. "Chick" Husketh. Sammy,
the only child remaining at the homestead
attended North Carolina State University,
served as medic in the Vietnam conflict,
attended the University of North Carolina
Surgeon's Assistant Program, and is presently
employed as a Surgeon's Assistant in Oxford,
at Granville Medical Center.

Now, in 1 987 the farm still belongs to Adel-
le. The farming operation has been converted
to a forestry plan with most of the land being
planted in pines. Adelle now lives in the small
house originally built for her mother Lallie.
Sammy "Sam," his wife Gaye, and their sons
Kyle and Jeremy, live at the homestead which
was built by great-great-grandmother Ann
Fuller.

Submitted by Adelle and Samuel Perry

THE ROYSTER FARM

My great-grandfather, J. T. Yancey, bought
this farm for $500 for 250 acres. He then gave
it to my grandmother, Elizabeth Yancey
Royster, and my grandfather, Horace
Royster, on November 3, 1883 as a wedding
present.

The land had a two-room loft house on it at
this time and a three acre cleared field. My
grandfather's daddy and uncle cleared one
hundred acres with a mule and hoe.

Elizabeth Y. Royster died September 30,
1930. The farm then belonged to Horace
Royster until his death on March 1 1, 1952.
My mother, Fannie J. Royster, and father,

107

Ray Royster and his grandson in a tobacco field.

Raymond A. Royster, bought the farm from
the Horace Royster estate February 12, 1953.

Raymond A. Royster died December 31,
1959. The farm then belonged to Fannie J.
Royster until her death September 8, 1973.
My wife, Alma D. Royster, and myself, L. Ray
Royster bought the farm from Fannie J.
Royster October 30, 1973. L. Ray Royster
and Alma D. Royster are the owners now.

This farm is 18 miles northwest of Oxford
and 12 miles northeast of Roxboro. It sits in
both Granville and Person Counties. There
are 127 acres in Person County and 94 Acres
in Granville County.

It has always been a tobacco farm. We now
have a 32 acre allotment. L. Ray Royster has
not worked off the farm as a job. Ray Royster
is third generation and his son, Gary R.
Royster, is fourth generation and works on
the farm also. There have been five genera-
tions to live on this farm.

Tobacco has always been the cash crop, but
they raised grain and cattle also. Without
tobacco, they couldn't make the farm pay off.

Submitted by L. Ray Royster

THE TAYLOR FARM

The exciting farm of Reverend Junious
Moore Taylor and wife, Nannie Peace of
Creedmoor nestled among Carolina Pines,
Red Oaks and graceful White Elms. A shy
crooked road tip-toed and twisted its lone-
some trail to the Taylor's two-story doorsteps.

Reverend Junious Moore Taylor.

Granville — Greene
Here the happy children, horses and herds
of various other farm animals galloped,
played and matured on land purchased by
Taylor in Granville County (Dutchville
Township) as follows: May 4, 1886 — three
acres for $75, in cash; November 5, 1887 —
25.25 acres for $300 cash; February 1 2, 1 898
— 25.5 acres for $350. By the middle of the
1900s his total acreage was some less than
250.

A Baptist minister and public school teach-
er, J.M. Taylor taught his family by monthly
Bible workshops in the home, daily school
curriculum, accenting nature: elements of the
sky and birds, rain, its function and destina-
tion; home ownership, a MUST; forest pro-
tection, the production of a vegetable garden
by every child by making him the owner of a
tiny plot of land with free seeds.

As of today, only 13.75 acres have been
deducted from the original. May 15, 1935 this
plot along Ledge Rock Creek was donated to
the new Creedmoor water system.

Submitted by Manie Taylor Geer, daughter

THE TURNER FARM

The Turner farm located on Highway 96
between Wilton and Cannady's Mill Road,
was purchased from A.R. Vann on July 28,
1864 by L. Thales Turner. He was a farmer
and a lay minister in the Methodist Episcopal
Church. He married Rosa Wainwright of Wil-
son.

Lemon Thales Turner, Rosa Wainright Turner and
daughter, Annie Laura Turner, who married A.E.
Bobbit.

The Turners had one daughter, Annie Lau-
ra. She married Alexander Edward Bobbitt in
1885. She inherited the farm from her par-
ents. Her farm was tended by her husband
and her sons, Willie Norman, Lemon Brooks
and Josie Shore with the help of four genera-
tions of a black family — the Bowdens.

Four generations of the Turner-Bobbitt
family have lived on this farm during the time
span of 1864-1933. The house was rented
after that time.

I have fond memories of taking a karo syrup
bucket filled with water to my father in the
field and going to the barns at night with my
mother to see my father who was "sitting up"
with tobacco. I can hear the night sounds and
smell the hot summer fragrance of honey-
suckle blended with curing tobacco even now
— almost sixty years later.

The present owners are Anne B. Murphy,
daughter of Josie Shore and Gladys Blackley
Bobbitt, Ruth B. Parrott and Naomi B. Jack-
son, daughters of Lemon Brooks and Florence
Moss Bobbitt.

Submitted by Anne Bobbitt Murphy

Greene County

THE CREECH FARM

Since 1746 nine generations of Creechs
have been landowners and farmers in Greene
County. Benjamin Creech, Sr. came to
Greene County in 1746 from Virginia. He
received land grants of 266 acres from King
George III. His farm was located near present
day highway 91 between Snow Hill and Kin-
ston. Benjamin Creech, Sr. left farms to all
seven of his sons. One son, Ezekiel Creech,
received landholdings on Rainbow Run in
Greene County. His son, John Creech, Sr.,
lived in Lenoir County but inherited this land
in Greene County. John had six sons and two
daughters. One of John's sons, Starkey
Creech, was deeded a farm on October 10,
1 838 by his father, John Creech, Sr. This farm
was located on Rainbow Marsh in Greene
County. The old homestead of Starkey
Creech and his son, Chris Creech, is still
standing on Rainbow Run and still belongs to
the Creech heirs. Chris Creech served in the
Civil War from May 1 86 1 until the end of the
war with the Greene County North Carolina
Company A, Third North Carolina Regi-
ment. Chris Creech had two sons and two
daughters. One daughter, Lu Dora, inherited
the farm from her father. Lee Dora left the
farm to her son, Eugene Hardy, and he left the
farm to his only child, a daughter, Sandra
Garner.

Sandra H. Garner homestead. Home of Starkey
Creech and his son, Christopher. Sandra Garner
lived in this house until 1956 when she was 12 years
old.

During all of these years the farm has been
used by the Creech family for general purpose
farming. It has been stated over the years by
heirs of Chris Creech that he was one of the
first seven people in Greene County to raise
tobacco for sale. Today small grain, corn,
tobacco, soybeans, hogs and cattle are grown
on this century farm. It wasn't until 1 986 that
modern day poultry farming was begun by the
present Creech heirs, Sandra Garner and her
husband, Jeff. They have two daughters,
Lynn, age twelve, and Genell, age nineteen.
Genell is majoring in agriculture in college
and plans to return to the family farm to con-
tinue what her ancestors began many years
ago. Unless something unforeseen occurs,
this land will continue to be farmed into the
next century by the Creech heirs.

Submitted by Sandra H. Garner

108

Greene

THE EDMUNDSON FARM

James Edmundson, my great-great-great-
grandfather was born before 1751 in what is
now known as Greene County. He was born
on this farm and died in 1799. His will is
recorded on April 6, 1 799.

\1/ \k N

The old Bull Head Post Office as it looked in 1981.

When the Revolutionary War started he
joined up with the Dobbs County volunteers
(Greene County today) and was a Lieutenant.
They went to South Carolina to fight. While
he was away the British crossed Nahunta
Swamp (on his farm) and Lt. Edmundson's
bull charged the "Red Coats." They killed the
bull and hung up its head in an oak tree in
front of Lt. Edmondson's home. This is how
the name Bull Head came about. Today this
area is officially known as Bull Head Commu-
nity. It has been Bull Head, North Carolina,
as there was a post office on this farm from
May 2, 1 836 to March 30, 1 907. The old post
office is still standing.

The old Lieutenant Edmundson home was
torn down around 1980. It had been put
together by wooden pegs and I saved a few. Lt.
James Edmundson and his son had over 8000
acres. Lt. Edmundson left part of the Bull
Head Plantation to his son, Dr. John Jackson
Edmundson; he, in turn, left part of his to his
son, John Jackson Edmundson, Jr.; he left
800 acres to his son Andrew Jackson
Edmundson. A. J. Edmundson became a state
Senator, representing Greene County. In the
late 1 800s, he lost most of the farm, but left 75
acres, the old graveyard, and the old post
office to his daughter May Edmundson Pope.
She left this to my brother and me upon her
death April 16, 1977.

The Edmundson graveyard — on this farm
— has seven generations in a row planted
there. From Lt. James Edmundson to my
brother's son. (My great-great-great-
grandfather, my great-great-grandfather and
wife; my great-grandfather and wife; my
grandfather and wife; my mother and father;
my father's brother who was killed in World
War I; my wife's and my gravestones — wait-
ing for us; and my brother's son who was
killed).

This farm has been in our family since
before the 1750s, although it has shrank a
great deal.

My aunt, who left me the farm, helped raise
me. After spending thirty years in the United
States Air Force, I came home. This is still a
working farm — we raised tobacco, corn, and
soybeans; and even today it is known as Bull
Head Plantation, located in Bull Head Com-
munity, Greene County, North Carolina.

This century farm is registered under the
name of John Ray Edmundson, Jr. and is
owned by my brother, William Carlyle
Edmundson, and me.

Submitted by John Ray Edmundson, Jr.

THE EDWARDS FARM

Since the 1700s the Edwards have been
landowners and farmers in old Dahles, Glas-
gow and present Greene County. A land grant
was issued to Colonel Thomas Edwards in
1753 on Fort Run, near Contentnea Creek,
Bull Head Township. Because of fires in
Lenoir and Greene County Courthouses, offi-
cial records are hard to find.

Henry Edwards inherited various tracts of
land in the area. At his death, his widow,
Lucretia Uzzel Edwards (1816-1 884), farmed
the land. Three children were born to Lucretia
and Henry, their youngest child William Hen-
ry Edwards (1847-1890) inherited the farm,
when he became of age.

William Henry Edwards married Smithie
Cobb. They had six children. After William
Henry's death, a guardian was appointed for
his minor children. When the children
became of age, the farm was divided and John
Lee Edwards inherited the Edwards home-
place. He was born in 1 885 and died in 1 942.
He married Orpha Hill. They had six chil-
dren. Orpha H. Edwards looked after the farm
after his death during World War II. In 1945
the land was divided and Martha Edwards
Croom inherited the Edwards homeplace. My
husband E.E. Croom died in 1 984. The house
is partially put together with wooden pegs. It
is told that the house is over 200 years old.

Corn, wheat, tobacco and soybeans are
grown at present on the land. Several years
ago cotton was grown and ginned on this
farm. John Lee Edwards, my father, lost his
right arm in the cotton gin when he was 21
years of age.

The Edwards family cemetery is behind the
house on this century farm.

Another Edwards family cemetery is near-
by. Colonel Thomas Edwards is buried there.
He was murdered by a slave June 23, 181 6.

Submitted by Martha Edwards Croom

THE FORREST FARM

The Forrest farm is located in Greene
County North Carolina on Highway 903, one
mile west of Scuffleton, five miles west of
Ayden, North Carolina. Scuffleton was once
known as Ridge Spring which was settled pri-
or to 1756.

William Forrest purchased the Forrest
farm December 11,1 797, which consisted of
100 acres. The boundaries of this farm are
identified as being the same lands owned by
Lemuel Forrest. The relationship of William
and Lemuel is unknown, presumed to be
brothers or cousins. Records do not reveal
how Lemuel acquired the lands or the date,
however, records show that Lemuel was born
on the Forrest farm September 17, 1824 and
died on October 10, 1870. Burial place is
unknown. Lemuel married Betsy Hart. Lem-
uel enlisted in the Civil War as a private in
Greene County on October 10, 1862. He
fought with Company C of the First Battalion,
North Carolina Local Defense Troop. He lat-
er transferred to Company C. of the 67th Reg-
iment of North Carolina Troops on January

1 8, 1 864. His son, Jessie Thomas Forrest, was
born January 15, 1846 on the farm and also
enlisted in the Civil War in 1 864. Father and
son both returned to the Forrest family farm
after the Civil War ended April 1 865.

Jessie Thomas married Mary Jane Phillips
June 1, 1866 and lived on the farm until they
died; Jessie Thomas on May 23, 1895, and
Mary Jane on March 8, 1 936. Both are buried
in the family cemetery on the farm. Records
show that Jessie Thomas served as justice of
the peace at Scuffleton when it was incorpo-
rated by the North Carolina Legislature in
1 885. At Mary Jane Forrest's death, the farm
was passed to her son, Doctor Roy Forrest.
Doctor Roy married Katie Jackson. After
Doctor Roy's death, the farm was passed to
Roy Thomas "Bud" Forrest. Roy Thomas
married Virginia Williams and they are now
owners of the farm and reside on the farm.
The farm will be passed to their son Thomas,
who is married to Wanda Tripp and their
heirs. Principal crops grown on the Forrest
farm at the present time are tobacco, corn and
soybeans. Cotton was a major crop in the thir-
ties. Submitted by Roy Thomas Forrest

THE JESSIE FRIZZELLE FARM

On December 12, 1851 Jesse Frizzelle
bought from Edward Carman 285 acres of
land in Ormonds Township, Greene County,
NC for $2200. In 1867 Jesse Frizzelle died
leaving this farm to his children Henry,
Owen, Mary, Margaret, John, Elizabeth,
Nannie and Jesse Tedoc Frizzelle. Jesse
Tedoc Frizzelle was born in 1851, and at the
age of sixteen or seventeen, in 1 867, took over
the operation of the Frizzelle Farm and by
1871 had bought the shares of his brothers
and sisters. Jesse Tedoc Frizzelle had four
sons: Mark Twain, Jesse Paul, Jasper Brooks
and John L. Frizzelle. Jesse Tedoc Frizzelle
gave to his sons this and some other adjoining
lands he had bought during his lifetime in the
late teens or early 1 920s, but was not recorded
until his death in 1928. Jasper Brooks (Jake)
Frizzelle became owner of the "Frizzelle
Home Farm" at this time. Jasper Brooks Friz-
zelle owned and lived on this farm until his
death in 1972.

The Frizzelle home built in 1880.

In 1 965 Jasper Brooks Frizzelle created the
"J. Paul Frizzelle Trust" of which the "Friz-
zelle Home Farm" became a part of at his
death in 1972. This "trust" is the present
owner of the "farm." The beneficiaries of the
"trust" are Nina F. Edwards, Sophia Frizzelle
Edmondson, Mary Frizzelle and the three
children of Barbara F. Miler. At the death of
Nina Edwards, Sophia Edmondson and Mary

109

Frizzelle, the "farm" will go to the great-great-
grandchildren of Jesse Frizzelle. They are
Connie E. Edwards, Pete, Paul and Warner
Miller, Nina Paul E. Vinson, Jack Edmond-
son, Jr. and Virginia Mark E. Mohn.

Jack Edmondson Jr., the great-great-
grandson, is presently living on and farming
this "Frizzelle Home Farm."

Submitted by J. Paul Frizzelle

THE GALLOWAY FARM

December 30, 1871 Lucinda and Jesse Gal-
loway purchased this farm from John Ber-
geron. When their son John married Eliza-
beth Walston it became their home. Lucinda
and Jesse had paid $462.50 for these 92.5
acres, but by 1882 it was given to John for
"natural love and affection."

This photo was made in the Galloway Farm lot in the
early 1940s. Jesse Randal Galloway is standing in
the background and William Jesse Galloway is
beside calf.

Here John and Elizabeth raised nine chil-
dren. Their money crop was cotton but Eliza-
beth was well known for herbs, flowers, and a
variety of vegetables and animals. She even
grew rice for her family. It must have been a
lovely sight to see her peacocks strutting
among her many crepe myrtles. When hog
killing day came she flavored the lard with her
rosemary and the sausage with her sage.

By 1893 Elizabeth had inherited money
from her father. She decided to purchase 59.5
acres of adjacent land from William Bergeron
for $238.

John died from blood poisoning when he
was only 45. Elizabeth continued to farm with
the help of her children. Tobacco was becom-
ing an important crop. This land was desir-
able for bright leaf tobacco.

The second son of John and Elizabeth, Jes-
se R. married Carrie Rowland Lewis. They
came to live with Elizabeth and purchased the
farm. Jesse R. loved animals and was often
called the "hog man." He raised registered
Duroc hogs that became champions through-
out the state.

Jesse R. and Rowland added 74.5 adjacent
acres in 1934. This had been Shackleford
land. The price was $900. He continued to
farm until he was killed in an automobile acci-
dent in 1 965. For a few years Rowland rented
her farm, but soon her son William Jesse
returned to take over. The farm is now owned
by William and his sister, Josie G. Loudensl-
ager.

The seventies brought many changes. Wil-
liam and his wife, Polly Kearney, began to
implement a mechanized process with the
tobacco. This required more land so they
have added over 700 acres from nearby

Greene — Guilford
farms. They have a modern pig parlor which
produces hogs for market.

Through the years there have been changes,
but there still remains a strong love of the
land. William exhibits this by his award-
winning soil conservation practices. Jesse had
taught this by his daily ritual of returning the
wood ashes and the apple cores he saved from
his nightly snack. He was always saying, "Ev-
erything must be returned to the soil."

This love of farming has been shown by two
great-grandsons of Jonathon Galloway, first
son of John and Elizabeth. They have each
been named "The Phillip Morris Outstanding
Young Tobacco Farmer of America." These
winners are Chap Tucker of Pitt County and
Randy McCullen of Wayne County.

Submitted by Josie G. Loudenslager

THE HERRING FARM

James Abie Herring was born to Abie and
Cuzzy Herring on November 1 , 1851 near the
Cliffs of the Neuse in Wayne County. He was
one of several children reared on a farm that
experienced flooding of the Neuse River,
which prompted James Abie Herring to con-
sider a move to higher ground.

James A. Herring and family, circa 1892.

Around 1 869 land became available to him
in the Shine Community of Greene County.
After establishing a farming operation, he
married Nancy J. Mewborn on July 1 5, 1 875.
Between 1 876 and 1891, this union produced
nine children, listed in order of birth: Willie
R. (1876), James Erascus (1877), Annie W.
(1879), James A. (1881), John W. (1883),
Minnie P. (1885), Joseph C. (1887), Melvina
(1889), and George B. (1891). Nancy Mew-
born Herring died July 24, 1891, and was bur-
ied in Mewborn Cemetery in the Jason Com-
munity of Greene County.

On May 1 7, 1 892 James Abie Herring mar-
ried Elmetta A. Daly. Their union produced
four children, listed in order of birth: Lester
Franklin (1893), Fannie Pauline (1894),
James Adam Cornelus (1896) and Charles
Edward (1898).

James Abie Herring died on December 8,
1912 leaving the farm to his wife, Elmetta.
Upon her death in 1 936 ownership passed to
her eldest son, Lester Franklin Herring Sr.

Lester added land to the original farm and
in 1929 married Blanche Taylor. This union
produced four children, listed in the order of
birth: Lester Franklin Herring Jr., James
Wright Herring, Joyce Herring (House), and
Faye Herring (Carawan). Lester Franklin
Herring Jr. died in 1978. The original home-
place is still being lived in and looks practical-
ly as it did when built in the 1 870s.

The original farm, consisting of approxi-
mately 270 acres, is still being farmed by
James Wright Herring, who with his wife,
Margaret, and two daughters, Katherine and
Holly, live next door to the original home-
place house. Submitted by J. W. Herring

Guilford County

THE BALLINGER FARM

The Ballinger farm in the Guilford College
Community of Guilford County and present-
ly owned by Emily Ballinger and Max D. Bal-
linger was originally acquired by the Bal-
lingers in 1 755 by a grant from England. The
children of Max D. and Patsy Ballinger are the
sixth generation living on the farm.

Ballinger homeplace, built in mid 1800s.

Farming on this property through the years
included growing small grain, small fruits and
vegetables along with poultry, dairy cows and
beef cows.

The present home was built in the mid
1800s. An outstanding feature of the land-
scape is the unusually large English boxwood
in the front yard. The eighth plants which
originally outlined the front walk were set in
the 1 880s. They now have grown together and
measure some ten feet in height.

History tells us that on the morning of
March 15,1781 the first fighting of the Battle
of Guilford Courthouse began on property
owned by the Ballinger family.

During the time of battle, the Ballinger
land lay directly in the line of march and
camping ground of the British army. As the
evening approached with the blare of trum-
pets and martial music, Mrs. Ballinger turned
the horses loose in hopes of saving them from
the British. She hastily locked her small chil-
dren in the smokehouse for safety and then
made a hurried effort to remove from the
house such articles as she could carry, among
which was her prized pewter. Three trips were
made to the nearby woods to bury this pewter
and the third time such was the roar of the
cannon and density of smoke she became
panic stricken, lost her way and was forced to
lay prostrate on the ground until the smoke
cleared away before she could get back to her
children.

The Ballingers owned an inn which was a
regular stagecoach stop on the Salisbury
Road. Ten years after the Battle of Guilford
Courthouse when George Washington visited
the battle fields in 1791, his records indicate
he dined at Guilford which was at the Bal-
linger Inn. He ate from the pewter saved dur-
ing the battle. The pewter and the walnut

110

table from which he ate are now in the
Greensboro Historical Museum.

Submitted by Emily Ballinger

THE CLAPP FARM

The Clapp farm, located on Clapp Farms
Road in Guilford County, is today farmed by
fourth and fifth generations on the family. On
August 19, 1845 Peter Clapp (1810-1891)
bought 360 acres on the north side of Buffalo
Creek in east central Guilford County for
$600. At the time of this purchase, the City of
Greensboro consisted of only one square
mile, and by 1850 had an estimated popula-
tion of 1 500.

Edna R. Clapp still lives in this home which her late
husband, J. Garland Clapp built with lumber cut
from the farm.

One of Peter's sons, Cornelius "Babe"
(1865-1925), continued to farm his share of
the land and purchased adjoining land until
his death in 1925. The farm continued to be
operated by his wife, Zula Andrew, and their
five children until 1941 when the two eldest
sons, Edsel C. (1901-1971) and J. Garland
( 1 903- 1987) purchased the farm interest from
the other three children and divided the 274
acres equally, continuing to farm together
until their retirement.

Each generation living on the farm supple-
mented the income from tobacco, grain,
strawberries and melons by selling wood, hay,
and other fruits and vegetables to customers
in Greensboro.

J. Garland and his wife, Edna R., pur-
chased additional adjoining land in 1947.
Their son, John G , \nd his wife, Gladys C,
purchased an additional 100 acres in 1975.

Today the farm, now consisting of 332
acres, is operated as a family unit by John G.
and Gladys C, in cooperation with their sons,
J. Randal and G. Keith, all of whom reside on
the original tract inherited by Cornelius
Clapp. Their major crops include tobacco,
wheat, grain sorghum, soybeans and hay.

Recent farm improvement projects include
construction of four irrigation ponds, field
enlargements, construction of sod waterways,
minimum tillage practices, timber manage-
ment, and grain storage facilities.

Each generation of the family has invested
heavily in time and money in this treasured
land with the sincere hope that it can continue
to be farmed by the future sons and daughters.

Submitted by The Clapp Family

Guilford
THE FIELDS FARM

Since 1870, three generations ago, this
original farm was in the name of Byrd Wash-
ington Johnson and Martha Highfill Johnson,
grandparents of Imogene Johnson Fields.
Grandpa Byrd served in Company F, 54th
Regiment North Carolina Infantry of the Civ-
il War. He was taken prisoner in Maryland in
1863, and remained there until Lee surren-
dered to Grant. After returning home from
the war, he married Martha Highfill. The
farm supported both of them along with their
13 children, of which Willis Edgar was the
13th.

L to R: Charlie, Emily, Leonard, Imogene, and
Amy.

Willis Edgar Johnson and Grace Wilson
married in 1921 and purchased a part of the
original homeplace. On this land they built a
home and supported three children, Willis
Byrd Johnson, Louise Johnson (Styers) and
Imogene Johnson (Fields). They raised tobac-
co, hay, corn and a large garden. Although
Willis Edgar never held a public job the fami-
ly seemed to have all it ever needed.

Imogene Johnson married Joseph Leonard
Fields from Carthage, North Carolina, in
1953, and they took over the care of Imo-
gene's mother and father, Willis Edgar and
Grace Wilson Johnson. Imogene and Leon-
ard built a home and continued farming the
land adding registered cows for additional
income to tobacco production.

Willis Edgar Johnson died in 1968 and
wife, Grace Wilson Johnson, died in 1 972. At
that time Imogene and Leonard inherited and
purchased the farm consisting of 85 acres and
continued to raise tobacco and cattle. In order
to make hay and corn enough for the cattle,
they leased additional land.

Imogene and Leonard are blessed with two
daughters, Amy Jo and Emily Grace. Emily
Grace married Charles Thomas Fields. Leon-
ard never held a public job, but considered
farming his full-time job.

The Fields family plans to continue the cat-
tle operation and tobacco as long as tobacco is
grown. God has blessed the family through
the generations and by his grace the Fields
hope to continue into the next century.

Submitted by Imogene Johnson Fields

THE JOHNSON FARM

The Johnson Farm is in the Stokesdale
Community in the northwest corner of Guil-
ford County. The farm has been in the family
for over 1 00 years.

Jack B. Johnson is restoring the Johnson homeplace
so it can be his permanent residence.

Burgess Johnson was the first Johnson to
own the property. Burgess acquired the land
shortly after the Civil War from his wife's
family, the Highfills.

Holly L. Johnson then acquired the land
from his father, Burgess Johnson. Holly lived
on the farm from the time of his birth in 1 893.

Holly's son, Jack B. Johnson, is the present
owner of the 71 acre farm. The farm is pres-
ently used to grow tobacco and raise cattle.

Jack B. Johnson is in the process of restor-
ing the residence and will within the next year
establish permanent residence at the home-
place. Jack hopes to continue to use the prop-
erty as farmland. Submitted by Jack B. Johnson

THE R.W. McNAIRY FARM

I am the last of a long line of Guilford
County farmers by the name of McNairy. My
wife and I reside on our farm just north of
Greensboro, North Carolina. We reared four
children here. Our farm dates back to Revolu-
tionary days, being farmed by members of the
McNairy family since Francis McNairy locat-
ed on Horsepen Creek in 1 762.

My father was a direct line descendant of
Francis, and every generation has lived on the
divided and inherited sections of the original
640 acres he bought from Herman Husbands.
Husbands was one of the regulators who
decided to return to Pennsylvania to live. He
and Francis came from the Lancaster, Penn-
sylvania area.

My father secured 125 acres of Francis
McNairy land. He bought and added adjoin-
ing acreage. I was the only child of seven chil-
dren who enjoyed farming, and I was fortu-
nate to buy the farm after his death.

I have grown tobacco, corn, hay and small
grain. I operated a cooperative dairy farm for
many years. I changed to beef cattle until
health reasons caused me to retire.

I have resorted to land leases with neigh-
boring farmers, but still reside in my ancestral
home. I look forward to my descendants
retaining our acreage and farm as long as they
can. My oldest son, R.W. McNairy, Jr. has
two sons and a daughter; they live next door to
me on this farm.

I seriously doubt my descendants can con-
tinue farming, as this farm has been annexed
into the city of Greensboro, North Carolina.

Submitted by R. W. McNairy

THE PAYNE FARM

Thomas Payne, son of Robert Payne and
Nancy Carter, of Stokes County, North Caro-

Elm Grove farm, home of Thomas Payne and Oscar
Payne.

lina, and his wife, Mary Rebecca Foy, daugh-
ter of .'ohn Foy and Rebecca Webster of
Rockingham County, North Carolina, pur-
chased from John Foy, 873 acres of land on
Hogans Creek for $1,000 on 25 February,
1854. On this farm they reared Mary Eliza-
beth, Dr. William A., Washington Franklin,
John Robert, Thomas Lee, Florence and
Oscar Eugene.

They had a separate kitchen which was also
used to teach the slaves the three R's by their
daughter Mary Elizabeth. Also located near
their home was an ice house. They cut ice off
the ponds from 1860-1942 to store for the
summer to be able to cool the milk, make ice
cream and for a cool glass of tea. The smoke
house was later located over top the ice house
where meats were stored.

Tobacco was the main crop raised and plug
tobacco was also manufactured.

Sheep were raised to sell the wool and this
wool was also used to spin yarn for clothing.
Turkeys were raised as a special extra money
project by the ladies. Pigs were raised for food
as well as to be sold.

Thomas died when Oscar, the youngest,
was in his teens. Oscar married Sallie Jose-
phine Neal. In the early 1900s the farm
became known as Elm Grove Farm and was
opened to northern hunters. Men came and
stayed two to three weeks at a time. The farm
was advertised as "Breeder of fine hogs,
sheep, cattle, along with fine bird dogs trained
and for sale."

A sawmill was operated from 1 9 1 9 to 1 949
with lumber being cut from the farm as well as
surrounding areas. When *hey first opened
22' timbers were cut for the town clock in
Madison which was dedicated as a Memorial
for the soldiers who had died in World War I.

A dairy was operated with up to 50 cows.
With all the animals including the usual
chickens, this entailed the planting of lots of
corn, wheat, rye, hay, oats and soybeans. Of
course, the garden was planted with fruit trees
to keep the family in good supply. Bees were
kept for honey.

In 1950 the Paul Davis Payne home was
built with lumber that had been cut and dried
from the farm's original Payne land. Having
parts of three different divisions of Thomas
Payne's land, Paul Davis Payne's acreage
extends from Gideon Grove Church Road in
Stokesdale, North Carolina, to US 220 in
Madison, North Carolina.

Submitted by Paul Davis Payne

Guilford

THE PAYNE FAMILY FARM

Our family farm history began about 1878
when my great-grandparents, Isaac N. and
Laura Payne purchased from the estate of my
great-great-grandfather, William Welborn, a
tract of land in Guilford County. Isaac, a car-
penter and farmer, and Laura had six chil-
dren. At the time of his death in 1914 Isaac's
three sons inherited the farm. After some time
my grandparents, John E. and Cleora Payne,
were able to purchase the interests of the other
two sons. As soon as he was old enough, they
were joined in the operation of the farm by my
father, John P. Payne. Up until the early six-
ties we grew tobacco as the main cash crop,
along with corn, hay crops, wheat, oats, and
garden produce. For the last several years, a
neighbor has grown about forty acres of soy-
beans, corn, and wheat on our farm. We have
a herd of approximately twenty Hereford and
Angus cattle.

Listed in the Guilford County survey of historical
homes and buildings, this structure is the homeplace
of John and Helen Payne of Guilford County. The
house is said to be 150 years old.

The family homeplace is estimated to be
one hundred fifty years old, and it is listed in
the Guilford County survey of historical
homes and buildings.

Submitted by Roger Payne for Cleora Payne

THE SCOTT FARM

The Walker W. Scott farm was a part of a
land grant made by the Earl of Granville in
1753 to the Nottingham Company. There
were 33 plots of 640 acres in each lot or sec-
tion. Historic Buffalo Church, one of the old-
est churches in Guilford County, was estab-
lished by the group receiving this land grant.
Samuel Scott, Sr. was a member of this group.
History of the Scott family and land is includ-
ed in books on the early days of Buffalo
Church. Records show that Samuel Scott took
title to two sections along Reedy Fork Creek.

John Wesley Scott's homeplace built in 1912.

He had two sons. One of these, Samuel, Jr.,
took over the farm.

Walker W. Scott's grandfather, Adam
Walker Scott, lived and worked the farm from
1831-1911. During the Civil War, Adam
Walker Scott served the Confederate Army in
the 5th N.C. Calvary. He was in the Battle of
Gettysburg and later helped build bridges and
clear roads. The Scott farm at this time
included 300 acres from the original land
grant. Adam's wife and two sons farmed the
land. The farm produced cattle, hogs and
sheep. When Adam was discharged from the
army, he was given a mule to use on the farm.

Adam Walker Scott gave one acre of the
farm to Guilford County for a one room
schoolhouse to be built on. This school served
the community for many years. This land was
deeded back to the Scott family when the
school was moved to another location.

When the railroad line from Danville to
Greensboro cut through the Scott farm in
1863, Adam sold the land northwest of the
railroad and moved his home as far southeast
as he could to get away from the railroad. In
1911 Adam's son, John Wesley Scott, built a
frame house in front of the old family home.
This house stands today and was home to
John Wesley's four sons and four daughters.
All eight children married and raised families
within'a few miles of the old homeplace.

John Wesley Scott and his family grew gain,
some tobacco and livestock. The family sold
250 pounds of tobacco in 1919 for $1.00 a
pound. In 1931 the entire one and one half
acre tobacco crop on the Scott farm sold for
less that $100.

John Wesley Scott died in 1 929 and Walker
W. Scott, his oldest son, inherited part of the
Scott farm. Walker Scott built a home in 1 938
in sight of the old homeplace. There are three
sons and three daughters in the Walker Scott
family. All have helped over the years with
livestock, tobacco, and vegetable gardening.
All have established homes in Guilford Coun-
ty and bring the grandchildren to the farm to
help at haying and gardening times.

The Walker W. Scott farm consists of only
fifty-eight acres out of the original land grant
of over a thousand acres. It is a source of great
pride that the land has stayed in the family for
so many generations and that even though the
city of Greensboro is very close, the farm still
produces annual income from beef cattle and
provides the grandchildren with an opportu-
nity to experience "life on the farm."

Submitted by W. W. Scott

THE SHEPHERD-BROWN FARM

William (Shaver) Shepherd, Sr. was in
Guilford County. Reverend Offman states
that William Schaefer came to this area from
Pennsylvania with the German group that
founded the historic Old Brick Reformed and
Lowe's Lutheran churches formed in 1748.

William, the first of six generations, was
born in Germany. He and Catherine are the
parents of Conrad, born in 1741, died Febru-
ary 18, 1843.

Conrad, the second generation, farmer,
also sold whiskey to the government and was
register of deeds for Guilford County.

Daniel, third generation, and wife, Mary
(Polly) Wagoner, are the parents of Mary Ann
Shepherd, fourth generation, born March 1 1,
1831. Mary Ann married, December 27,

112

Nellie Summers Nix and husband, William Fred
Nix.

1854, Peter Brown, born April 9, 1833, died
March 31,1 904. Mary Ann died May 6, 1 9 1 6.
Both are buried at Bethel Presbyterian
Church Cemetery. Peter served during the
Civil War and was wounded in Virginia.

Fifth generation Eugenia Brown married
January 1, 1902, Lacy Summers. Reverend
C.A. Brown, pastor of Frieden Lutheran
Church, performed the wedding at the home
of the bride where she was born. The home
was built by her parents, Mary Ann and Peter
Brown in 1858. Lacy died July 21, 1955, and
Eugenia died on her wedding anniversary,
January 1, 1968. They are both buried at
Bethel Presbyterian Church Cemetery in
Guilford County.

Nellie Summers, sixth generation, and her
husband, William Fred Nix, have owned the
farm since October, 1 945.

In October 1959 the Shepherd-Brown
house was awarded first place in competition
for the most improved house by Sears, Roe-
buck and Company of Greensboro, North
Carolina. Unless something unforeseen
occurs this land will remain to be farmed by
the seventh generation.

May 30, 1976 this home was on the "His-
toric Homes Tour A Bicentennial Event"
sponsored by the Gibsonville Bicentennial
Committee and the Guilford County Bicen-
tennial Commission.

Eugenia Ann Nix and her husband, Alton
Theodore Barber, Sr., built a log house on the
farm in 1984.

Submitted by Nellie Summers Nix

THE STEWART FARM

Finley Stewart born 1 730, farmer and pio-
neer, from County Down Northern Ireland,

This house is on the 251 acre farm of John Stewart.
A log house is enclosed. It was here in 1849. Most of
the house was remodeled between 1890-1900.

Guilford

brought his bride, Prudence Shaw, to Ameri-
ca about 1 763 as that is the date of their mar-
riage. They settled two years in Pennsylvania,
later coming to Guilford County in the Ala-
mance Presbyterian Church Community.
Here eight children were born. On December
16, 1778 Finley Stewart received land grant
No. 15 in Guilford County containing 640
acres and signed by Richard Caswell, Gover-
nor of North Carolina.

We assume that Finley Stewart was a pros-
perous farmer because in his will he left to his
wife, Prudence, "all the horses she may
choose, and one half of all the black cattle and
sheep and all farming utensils she may stand
in need of." We know that Finley Stewart
raised oats, for he furnished oats to the Unit-
ed States of America in November 1781. This
record was found in "Accounts of United
States With North Carolina War and Revolu-
tion" Book A, page 85.

When Finley Stewart died in 1 809, he left to
his wife, Prudence, "as much of the planta-
tion as I now live on, to be labored as she may
think proper during her lifetime, and to my
son John Stewart all the remainder of my
estate whether real or personal."

John Stewart, son of Finley Stewart, born
1770, married Agnes Gorrell in 1803. John
Stewart died in 1825 without a will, leaving
eight children.

After a large portion of the estate was allot-
ted to his widow, Agnes Stewart, in Novem-
ber 1825, the clerk of court appointed five
men to divide the remaining 1222 acres
equally among six living children.

It is not clear where all this land is today,
but on November 25, 1849 Robert Shaw
Stewart, born 1820 and son of John Stewart
and Agnes Gorrell Stewart bought from
Joseph A. Houston 251 acres on the bank of
Little Alamance Creek in Guilford County.
Robert Shaw Stewart married Isabell J.
McMurry in 1849 and settled on the above
farm and raised six children. Robert died in
1906 at the age of eighty-six. He had a son,
David Curry Stewart, born 1 859, who inherit-
ed the farm and lived and farmed there for
eighty-five years. He died on the farm, which
was operated as a family farm. He raised
wheat, corn, oats, tobacco and livestock. He
married Jodie I. Greeson and they raised four
children. This century farm is still owned by
the Stewart family, and John Henry Stewart,
son of David Curry Stewart, lives on the farm
and operates it.

The above Robert Shaw Stewart had a
brother, James A. Stewart, born 1810, who
married Susan E. Gilmer in 1853 and began
accumulating land near Alamance Presbyte-
rian Church in Guilford County. When he
died in 1890, he owned eight hundred acres
all in one tract. He had one child, John R.
Stewart, who operated the farm until his
death in 1916. The farm was left to his widow
and John Henry Stewart, son of David Curry
Stewart. In 1 929 six hundred acres were sold,
but John Henry Stewart still owns two hun-
dred acres of century land that is being farmed
with tobacco, corn, rye, wheat, soybeans and
hay. Submitted by John H. Stewart

THE WAGONER FARM

Wagoners have been farming the land in
Guilford County for over 200 years. John
Wagoner, farmer, was born in 1794. There

John B. Wagoner in the corn field.

must have been at least one more generation,
since John's birthplace was Guilford County.
His son, Simeon, is listed in the 1860 census
as being a 32-year-old farmer. He was also a
brick maker, using clay from the farm, and
three of his sons were "harnysmaker," distill-
er, and tanner. One son, John Valentine Wag-
oner, continued to farm a portion of the land.
His youngest son, J. Irvin Wagoner, showed
an early interest in continuing the farming
tradition. As a teenager he bought one of the
first grain binders in the area.

After graduating from N.C. State Universi-
ty, J.I. Wagoner married Eunice Homewood
of an outstanding Alamance County farm
family, and they returned to Guilford County
to settle on part of the Wagoner farm. Their
combined last name gave the farm its name,
Wagwood Farms, and they carried on an
active farming operation throughout his 32
years as Guilford County agricultural agent.
Many of the practices he recommended to
area farmers he had already tried on his farm.
He experimented with crops to find varieties
that would grow well and with new products
to determine effects and procedures. He also
found ways to benefit others through mainte-
nance of a dairy bull for upgrading of herds
and joint ownership of equipment for more
efficient harvesting. He was a charter member
of the N.C. Crop Improvement Association,
growing North Carolina certified seed, and a
charter member of the North Carolina Seed
Foundation as one of the first growers of
hybrid seed corn. In 1938, at the age of 15,
sons, John and Fred, added a new farm crop,
Christmas trees.

John B. Wagoner joined his father after
World War II as the first full-time farmer in
the family in several generations. In 1963
Wagwood Farms was incorporated, with
stock issued to J.I. and Eunice H. Wagoner
and to their children, Margaret Ellen W. Mor-
gan, John B. Wagoner, Fred H. Wagoner and
Paul M. Wagoner. John continues in seeds
and Christmas trees, and now his son, Bryan,
is beginning as a seventh generation farmer
on some of the same land that his ancestors
started to farm in the 18th century.

Submitted by Rebecca F. Wagoner

Halifax — Harnett

Halifax County

THE FLEMING FARM

"In the name of God, amen. I, James
Moore, of the county of Southampton, Vir-
ginia, being of sound mind and memory,
thanks to Almighty God for the same, do
make and ordain this, my last will and testa-
ment, in the manner following that is to say .
. ." Thus began the will of James Moore dated
March 15, 1775.

Among the heirs to receive land in Halifax
County was a son, James Moore, Jr., (1765-
1851) who was married to Martha Williams,
Sally Lowe, and Mary Council, and who
fought as a privateer in the Revolutionary
War. He was one of the earlier Moores to be
buried in the Moore family cemetery on the
farm. He divided most of his property among
his eleven children; however, his homeplace,
"Sycamore Alley," was left to two grandchil-
dren, James Moore, 111(1841-1905) who was
married to Ann Little and Thomas Graham
Moore ( 1 846- 1 885) who was married to Jose-
phine Stallings.

In 1886 an uncle, Bartholomew "Bat" Fig-
ures Moore (1801-1879) who was married to
Louisa Boddie and Lucy Boddie, was the
Attorney General of North Carolina, and for
whom Moore Square in downtown Raleigh
was named, purchased a large portion of
"Sycamore Alley" land from other heirs. He
then willed this additional land to nephews,
Thomas Graham Moore and Dempsy Pitt-
man Moore (1857-1918) who was married to
Carrie Wooten.

By 1912 Auburn Moore Bloomer (1874-
1953) who was married to Annie Maud Dra-
per and his brother, Hugh Bloomer (1876-
1958) who was married to Sallie Angelina
Draper, nephews of Thomas and Dempsy,
had purchased 736 acres of the Moore origi-
nal "Sycamore Alley" land from their uncles.
Hugh and Auburn divided the acreage
between them and began farm operations.
Although Auburn's health failed, Hugh
astutely and quite successfully bought more
land and conducted a highly organized and
self-sufficient farm operation that was to con-
tinue for nearly 50 years.

In its heyday so complete were the farm
activities that the only outside purchase for
the family and the many farm workers was
that of salt and sugar. The rich, loamy soil
produced bountiful crops of tobacco, pea-
nuts, cotton, corn, soybeans and small grains,
as well as, vegetables, fruits and nuts year
after year. Even before electricity came to
rural North Carolina, this farm used its own
generator.

"Mr. Hugh" was a progressive, venture-
some, confident, highly intelligent man who
built a 1 200 acre estate that stands tall in the
memories of those who knew him. The lovely
homeplace which he built in 1914 sits among
ancient oak trees under which large numbers
of relatives and friends enjoyed his well
known barbecues and fellowship.

Today part of the Auburn and Hugh
Bloomer property is owned by Robert Bloom-
er Fleming, who is married to Diane Gay
Price (see Price Farm since 1833) and Wil-
Tiam Harrison Fleming, who is married to
Janice Leah Joyner. Robert and William,
"Bob" and "Bill," identical twins, own and

operate 370 acres of the original "Sycamore
Alley" property. They are the grandsons and
great nephews of Auburn and Hugh, respec-
tively. Submitted by Robert B. Fleming

THE GARNER FARM

James H. Garner was born February 12,
1 867. He was in the service with the 32 Infan-
try Division CSA. He was the father of five
children by his first wife. She died in 1881.

The Garner home in 1951.

On February 1 3, 1 883 he married Eliza W.
Garner. There were two children born to
them, his second marriage: Archer Lee Gar-
ner and Jessie R. Garner. James H. Garner,
bought the first land in 1 868, all being in Hali-
fax County.

In 1 8 78 he purchased land in Halifax Coun-
ty. Besides farming this land, he owned and
operated a cotton gin on this land. James H.
Garner died in 1 89 1 , leaving two children for
Eliza to raise and care for. Archer L. Garner
and Jessie R. Garner were not old enough to
remember their father. After his death, Eliza
looked after the farm as long as she could, and
then had to depend on sharecroppers until her
death.

Claude W. Garner, the present owner, was
a sharecropper until her death. Claude's
father, Archer L. Garner purchased the farm
shares from his brothers and sisters and sold
the farm to me, Claude W. Garner, on Janu-
ary 16, 1962.

All of this family was born in a four room
house. Claude was born here. Claude has one
son, Fred W. Garner, living on this farm now
who will be taking it over when Claude retires.
Fred is very much interested in keeping the
farm in the Garner family and maintaining
interest in farming. He is married and has two
boys. Submitted by Claude Garner

Harnett County

THE DENNING FARM

Fred Junious and Sue Walker Denning, liv-
ing on Rt. 2, Angier, maintain a farm passed
through generations dating back to as early as
1 796. Due to the loss of records 1 796 is the
earliest documented reference to the farm,
beginning with Joel Denning. Descendants
are Joel Denning, Jr., Andrew Washington
Denning, Floyd Denning, and the Fred
Junious Denning family. Their children are
Debra Denning Stephens, Dona Denning
Aponte and Danny Fred Denning. Debra and
Tommy Stephens and their children, Kacey
Lynn Partin (from previous marriage),
Thomas Gilmore Stephens, Jr. and Daniel
Lee Stephens are now residing on the farm in

L to R: Ben Denning's wife, Annie, and son Namon,
Floyd Lundy Denning, ZillieAnn, widow of Andrew
Washington and William Arthur Denning.

the house that was built prior to the Civil War.
The house is constructed of hewn boards of
heart pine and the nails that were made back
in the 1800s.

Fred Junious and son, Danny Fred, contin-
ue the farming tradition. The farm's irriga-
tion pond was originally smaller, fed by a
stream and enclosed by a rail fence and sur-
rounded by a mulberry grove for livestock
use. One of the family cemeteries is located on
this section of the farm. The earliest intern-
ment was in the early 1800s.

It is believed that this farm was the first one
in the area to grow tobacco. Wood was used
for many years for curing, later oil was used
and now LP gas is used.

Many eastern North Carolina Denning
family members can trace their history to this
farm and its original land tracts.

Submitted by F. Junius Denning

THE FUQUAY-PARRISH FARM

This century farm, "the Fuquay Place" is
located on Northington Road in Harnett
County.

William (Billy) M. Fuquay is said to have
been a large landowner in Harnett County. It
is uncertain what year he came to this location
from Fuquay Springs. The word has been
passed down that Fuquay Varina is in part
named for his brother, David.

Earliest deed books were destroyed by a fire
in Harnett County. From the oldest records
available, it is shown W.M. Fuquay deeded
130.5 acres to a son, George David Fuquay,
June 26, 1 873 for $50. G.D. and wife Cather-
ine had eight children born on this farm: Lula,
Sallie, Mattie, Allen, Sival, Chaffin, George
and John. A devoted family, siblings
remained on the farm to work with their aging
parents — some never marrying.

Wheat, corn, other grains and cotton were
grown, and later tobacco. With exception ol
coffee and sugar, little was purchased food
wise. Animals were raised for that purpose as
well as assorted fruits. A tar kiln was once
located on the farm. Also, herb gardens and
the woods produced roots, leaves and seed foi
medicinal purposes.

Health and other misfortunes required the
sale of acreage through the years, as well as ar
amount deeded to a married daughter some
time after the death of George D. Fuquay ir
1924. This undivided farm continued in
operation by his children and descendant;
until 1960s at which time it was leased.

With the death of the last surviving sibling
Sival Fuquay, the farm was sold in 1 980 witr

114

the exception of 12.10 acres, the old home-
place and the farm buildings.

This is retained and "let out" in combina-
tion farming, this 1987, by owner Thelma
Fuquay Parrish — granddaughter of George
D., daughter of John, niece of others men-
tioned. She was reared here — roots are deep,
for she loved the people and the land too
much to part with it — this small century
farm. Submitted by Thelma Fuquay Parrish

THE JOHNSON FARM

The genesis acreage for the Johnson centu-
ry farm was from a land warrant issued to
Tapley Johnson, Sr. on May 18, 1870. This
warrant was for 200 acres located in present
day Harnett County, then part of Cumber-
land County. Over the next 20 years through
additional grants end purchases, he increased
this acreage to a total of 1 240 acres.

Mr. and Mrs. Ralph L. Johnson August 1987 in front
of the Johnson farm homec. 1918.

Tapley Johnson, Sr.'s oldest son, William,
and his wife, Goodwin Carter, had one child,
Willis, who married Narcisses Spence. Their
only son, Robert Timothy Johnson, was my
father. He was deeded as his inheritance the
620 acres that is the Johnson century farm
today.

In 1917 our mother, nee Ottie Mae Utley,
died leaving my father with seven children,
ages two months to 1 6 years. My father saw
that all of the children received a college edu-
cation, one becoming a doctor, one a pharma-
cist, one a dietitian, two teachers, and two
farmers.

In 1933 after graduating from N.C. State
College, I returned to the farm at the height of
the depression to help my father, and
assumed all duties. In 1939 I married Goldie
M. Rowland (died 1978) and brought my
bride to the farm. Besides the crop farming,
we raised chickens, turkeys, hogs, cows, and
timber and ran a commissary that my father
had opened in 1897 for the tenant farmers
who lived on the land.

In 1 950 at the age of 85, my father died. As
my part of the estate, I received this farm
which I am still operating on a share crop
basis. The main crops are tobacco, soybeans,
corn, and I keep about 24 head of cattle for
pasture grazing.

I have two sons and it is my hope that this
farm will be farmed into the next century by

Harnett

them and by their sons.

Submitted by Ralph Leon Johnson

THE KINTON FARM

Soon after the Revolutionary War, James
Champion acquired himself a wife, Temper-
ance and seven hundred acres of land, located
on the waters of Parker's Creek at the ford of
Northington Road, with the Raleigh Road
dividing the plot in now northern Harnett
County. He built his family a log cabin and
had one son, James.

This log cabin which stands today is one Robert Kin-
ton lived in as a boy.

Progress changed the road and young
James II moved the log cabin from one knoll
to another knoll where it remains until today,
with the eighth generations children playing
there. Two lean-to sheds were added to the
cabin and a kitchen approximately 50 feet
east of the cabin with a large cooking fire-
place. About 1909, the lean-to sheds were
removed and four larger rooms were built on
the south and west of the cabin. Again, the
road was changed and the back became the
front, so a porch was built reaching across the
front and side toward the kitchen with a small
porch room (without a window) at the end.

The family water supply had been a spring
and a well was dug by the road to accommo-
date travelers and their animals as well as the
family. The barns also were near the new road
reached by all comers before the house came
into view.

Each generation has added and subtracted
to the house. There are ten rooms now and the
tiny spiral stairway to the attic, outside kitch-
en, and roadside barns are gone and a new
well has been bored. Robert Kinton from Vir-
ginia married Katherine Champion and now
their daughters and grandchildren return to
enjoy the house, fields and woodlands, wel-
coming any cousins who have found city life
enticing.

More acres were added and the land was
divided as time passed, being farmed all the
while. New houses have dotted the landscape.
Several hundred acres remain in the family
with a variety of names: Abernathy, Austin,
Champion, Cutts, Houck, Kinton, Sears, Ste-
phenson, and Williams. All are grateful for
the zeal expressed in the lives of James and
Temperance.

Submitted by Katharine Champion Kinton

THE LANGDON FARM

The Joseph Marion Langdon family got its
start in Harnett County on September 28,
1881. Joseph bought 60.75 acres in two tracts
of land on that date. He was born in Johnston
County on August 21,1 860. His father, a sol-
dier in the Confederate Army, died in Scotts-
ville, Virginia in April of 1863 of "pneumo-
nia."

The Langdon farm taken in 1984.

On December 15, 1881, Joseph married
Susan Elizabeth Denning. From 1883 until
1 892 she bore five children. She died October
11, 1894 at the age of 33.

In February of 1895 Joseph married Sally
Ann Cobb, who had five children from 1896
to 1906. Three reached adulthood. She died
May 6, 1 926 at the age of 60.

For his third wife, Joseph married Martha
Barbour. She outlived him.

From that first purchase in 1881 until his
death on May 17, 1936, Joseph eventually
owned 341 acres of land. He never moved
from this land. After his death, the farm was
split into eight shares. Seven of these are still
owned by Joseph's grandchildren and great
grandchildren.

Daywood E. Langdon, a grandson, owns
two shares. With his son, Dudley Langdon,
and his son-in-law, Cecil Stephenson, they
farm all seven shares. Tobacco, corn, beans
and beef cattle are their main interests. Day-
wood bought one share from his father,
Dester, and inherited the other. He plans to
pass them on to his sons, Kent and Dudley, so
part of Joseph's farm will be Langdon land for
a good while yet.

Submitted by Daywood E. Langdon

THE SMITH FARM

For over 200 years descendants of Richard
Smith have enjoyed the fruits of the farm
deeded to him on February 19, 1783 lying on
both sides of Neil's Creek — "In consider-
ation of one hundred twenty-five pounds."

A pen and ink drawing of the Smith homeplace.

Many descendants of this family continue to
live in this area between Hector's Creek and
Neil's Creek in northern Harnett County. At
that time, Harnett County was a part of Cum-
berland County. Seven generations of Smiths
have farmed this area.

Arthur, son of Richard, owned lands "lying
on the waters of Hector's Creek." In 1 833 Cal-
vin, son of Arthur, purchased lands lying on
Cooper's Branch (between Neil's Creek and
Hector's Creek) for one dollar per acre. Cal-
vin sold to his son, John, in 1870, 295 acres
for $350.00. On September 22, 1885 John
sold to his brother, Elmond, these 295 acres
for $1,000. Elmond and wife, Nancy Cather-
ine Matthews Smith, sold 245 acres lying east
of Bettie's (their daughter) 50 acres, to his son,
Waylon Francis Smith in November 1906
retaining their lifetime rights.

The Calvin Smith homeplace was remod-
eled by Elmond and Waylon; later by Waylon
and his wife, Anna Lanier Smith. The house
was built from timbers from the forest and
stones found on the land. Of necessity, the
farms were self-sufficient. One could find
stored in the smokehouse a spinning wheel, a
loom standing in the stable of the mule barn,
nearby an old log kitchen used for the cows, a
carpenter's shelter near the house and a wood
shed, down a path a blacksmith's shop and
tobacco barns, not far away the family ceme-
tery.

Waylon and family tended cotton, grains
and some tobacco. Because of the wilt in the
tobacco around 1918 farmers from Granville
County began to move into the area. Produc-
tion of tobacco was increased until the farm
had three sharecroppers.

Waylon's farm was divided in 1946 and
deeded to his seven heirs. The families of
Waylon F. Jr. and DeLorese Smith Caviness
continue to live on the farm. Thomas Lee
Caviness, husband of Delorese S., has tended
part of this farm and an adjoining farm pur-
chased by them for fifty years. Thomas L.,
now retired, rents the farm to a "big" tobacco
farmer.

Two portions of the century farm and the
adjoining farm are willed to Thomas Lee
Caviness, Jr. and wife of Williamsburg, Vir-
ginia.

Submitted by DeLorese and Thomas L. Caviness

THE SMITH FARM

In 1 938 Hoke and Dot Smith moved to the
Neil A. Smith farm. They moved into the
house they call home today. They started
farming the old fashion way. Great changes
have come about since then.

In 1872, Hoke's grandfather and his broth-
er, Jim Smith, purchased 305 acres of land
from Caroline Matthews Bradley. Caroline
had inherited this from her parents who had
been granted several hundred acres from the
King of England. Later, Jim sold his part to
Neil, who had purchased several other tracts
of land. Neil died in 1925. His youngest son,
Orvis, inherited the Bradley tract. Hoke and
Dot bought this land from him in 1 960. They
have two other farms.

When Neil bought the land there was an old
kitchen type house located on the farm. It
became the family dwelling.

A new house was built in 1883. Hoke and
Dot's children: Susan Smith Vincannon and
Kathryn Smith Bradley were reared here.

Harnett — Haywood

Hoke has restored the old kitchen which is
near the "big house."

In 1880 Neil Smith bought a cotton gin,
gristmill and sawmill from Caroline M. Brad-
ley and family. They had to pack the bales of
cotton with their feet. Only two or three bales
were ginned a day.

In 1890 he built a large country store in
Kipling. He had groceries, farm equipment,
cloth, stockings, shoes and even kept instru-
ments for pulling teeth. He pulled quite a few.
He was known as the man who could doctor
anything. In 1 926 Hoke's father, Reid Smith,
took over the operation of the store. He ran it
until 1 954. Hoke took it over and ran it until
1969.

The farm was in constant operation all of
this time (thanks to Dot). They grow or have
grown tobacco, cotton and small grain
through the years.

Another side of this story is that Carolina
Bradley was the sister of Melissa Senter's
father. Melissa Senter is the maternal grand-
mother of Hoke. The land had been in her
family two generations before Neil Smith
bought it.

Hoke and Dot celebrated their 50th wed-
ding anniversary October 16, 1987.

Submitted by Hoke and Dot Smith

THE TART FARM

This farm has been in the Betty Hobson
Johnson family since 1851, 1859, and 1860.
The family has the old handwritten deeds. It
has been passed down four generations and is
small now.

Floyd Johnson on porch. Betty Ann Johnson, Wil-
liam Corby Johnson and friends.

Ferney Tart deeded the land to his son,
Nathan Tart, and his brothers and sisters.
Then the land was deeded to Phoebe Tart
Hobson, mother of Betty Hobson Johnson,
and her brothers and sisters, ten of them. Now
the land belongs to Mary Hobson Bullard and
Betty Hobson Johnson. Betty's mother and
father bought two shares.

Betty has a small farm now of 36 acres.
Mary Hobson Bullard, Betty's sister, owns 25
acres. She has no children, but it will stay in
the family.

Betty has three children, Nathan Floyd
Johnson, Betty Ann Johnson Jackson and
William Corby Johnson. Betty's husband was
Floyd Johnson. He died in January 1984.

Betty still lives in the house. It is over 100
years old. She has done a lot of work on it. Wil-
liam Corby Johnson lives here and farms.
They will own the land and farm it right on.
We have tobacco, corn, sweet potatoes, hay

and soybeans.

Submitted by Betty Hobson Johnson

Haywood County

THE FULBRIGHT FARM

Robert Rogers was the son of Hugh and
Nancy Thornton Rogers. Hugh Rogers, a
Revolutionary War soldier, fought in a num-
ber of skirmishes in North and South Caroli-
na, the most important being the Battle of
King's Mountain. Nancy Thornton, the
daughter of John Thornton, a manufacturer
of powder, served water from a gourd dipper
to Col. John Seveir's men. She caught the eye
of the young patriot, Hugh Rogers, and he
resolved he would see her again. Soon after
the winning of the war, Hugh took Nancy as
his bride. In 1800 he moved his family to a
home on a large boundary of land he had pur-
chased on Fine's Creek in Haywood County.
They lived there until their deaths. Hugh Rog-
ers died October 29, 1848 at the ripe old age
of 88.

About 1830 Robert Rogers secured 200
acres of land through a state grant located
north of what is the Lake Junaluska Method-
ist Assembly. He selected a knoll just above an
excellent spring of water, on which to build
his home. Two streams join just below the
house.

A large two-story house was built from lum-
ber sawed on the place and three chimneys
with fireplaces were erected from brick made
on the site.

About 25 years ago a great-grandson, Guy
Fulbright, who was a building contractor, and
now owns the property, took down the old
chimneys in remodeling the house. He used
the bricks for two large chimneys and fire-
places in a large log house he built for his son,
Dr. Robert Fulbright, on a hill facing the Ful-
bright home.

Robert Rogers married Susanna Smith.
Five sons and two daughters were born to this
union. Julia Ann, the youngest daughter,
stayed on in the home with her parents. She
married Andrew Jackson Fulbright and they
continued to live with her mother who lived
to be 91 years of age.

The Fulbrights were the parents of three
sons and three daughters.

Julia Ann was a shrewd businesswoman.
To her three sons she deeded the property her
father had left to her in the Rogers Cove. To
her daughters she left property on Fine's
Creek which she inherited from her father.

Robert Fulbright, her eldest son, took care
of his mother and owned the homestead.
Even though he married twice, he had no chil-
dren and left this property to a nephew, Guy
Fulbright, son of George Fulbright. Guy con-
tinued to live on this property until his death,
May 3, 1 980. A few years before his death, he,
with his wife, Evalee Snelson Fulbright, deed-
ed the farm to their two children, Robert Ful-
bright and Sylvia Fulbright Echols, the pres-
ent owners.

The portion of land left to George Fulbright
is still owned by his heirs. Several acres left to
the other son, Sam Fulbright have been sold.

Corn, tobacco, hay, and small grains have
been grown on this farm over the years. The
farm is now being leased to a neighbor and is
being kept up well. Much of it is pastured. Hay
and tobacco are now the chief crops. Cattle

116

are fed in two barns. Two good rental houses
are maintained, aside from the remodeled
two story brick home in which Guy Ful-
brighf s widow continues to reside.

Submitted by Exalee Fulbright

THE MEASE FARM

My first memories of our farm are as a
small girl going with my father to feed the fat
cattle and the sheep. I was the only child in our
family. My father was 50 years old when he
and my mother were married. My father, Ira
Henson, cared for my grandfather until his
death. They lived on the same farm that I now
live on.

The Mease farm in the snow with mountains in the
background.

My grandfather, Henry Henson, was a
descendant from Scotland. When the land
was first settled, there were little valleys
between these beautiful mountains in western
North Carolina which were called "coves."
The cove where I now live is Henson Cove as
most every family that lived in the cove were
Hensons. My father had brothers and sisters
who all lived in the Henson Cove. My grand-
father and father bought several acres of land;
some were purchased from one of our rela-
tives who went west in the gold rush years. My
father was born on this farm and lived here all
his life.

When my grandfather died, my father mar-
ried my mother, who was of Irish descent.
These people were of hearty stock as my
grandfather Grogan, mother's father, lived to
the age of 106. 1 had one brother who died in
infancy. I was born in February 1923.

I married a man from another cove, just
across the mountain from our cove, called
Dutch Cove. His name was Way Mease, Sr.
We were married 62 years before his death in
May of 1985 at 90 years of age. He was of
strong Dutch and German descent. To us
were born five children. Two boys, Way
Mease, Jr. and Charles Mease; and three
daughters, Dorothy Mease McCracken, Nan-
cy Mease Blazer and Margaret Mease Husni-
an. All five are living and in good health
today. We made our living on the farm as did
my parents and grandparents before. We have
1 3 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.

As we began to get up in years, we could
no longer farm the land, so we divided it
amongst the five children.

Haywood

We loved the farm, and we made a good liv-
ing on it. God has been very good to us and
blessed us in many ways. When my husband
died, it was the first death in the family in sev-
eral years.

My children, who now have deeds to the
farm, lease it for pasture land presently. Each
of us still grows vegetables on the farmland.

Submitted by Mrs. Way Mease, Sr.

THE MORGAN FARM

This farm is on Green River Road and was
first owned by a Murphy family. The farm
was originally two tracts, 420 acres and 380
acres, with a total of 800 acres. The Murphy
family sold the farm to a Justice family. The
family lost the farm because of taxes. The
judge considered him a lunatic, so the county
auctioned the farm off.

Daniel Pace bought the farm for $700 in
1838. The main crops produced on the farm
were corn, potatoes and chestnuts. They also
raised pigs for the market.

Daniel Pace was born October 6, 1 79 1 . He
died on May 31, 1871. He had two children.
One was named Frank Pace. He got 400 acres
and the original homeplace.

Frank was born January 9, 1838 and died in
1918. He married Mary Ann Jones on Janu-
ary 10, 1869. They were married January 10,
1869. They had four children, one being
Sarah Pace.

Sarah was born March 1, 1871 and died
March 1912. She married John Mitchell Mor-
gan, August 2, 1 896. They had four children:
Perlie, John Dwight, Clyde and Mae.

Until now all the generations have raised
corn, potatoes and chestnuts as well as live-
stock.

John Dwight Morgan was born January 26,
1902 and died August 3, 1973. He married
Lyda Myrtle Ward on August 26, 1928. He
raised corn until the summer of 1 948 when he
started raising pole beans. The first year, he
put out five acres of pole beans. The next
year, he put out ten acres until he got to 200
acres.

In 1958, John Dwight Morgan and his son,
John Dwight Morgan, Jr. became partners.
They farmed about 100 acres of pole beans.
They were partners from 1958 until 1966
when John Dwight, Sr. retired.

John Dwight Morgan, Jr. was born on June
3, 1929 and died May 6, 1982. He was mar-
ried to Dorothy Louise Kuykendall.

John Dwight, Jr. farmed by himself from
1967 until 1971.

John Dwight Morgan, Jr.'s son, Michael
Steven Morgan, graduated from East High in
May of 1 967. He went to North Carolina State
University and graduated in January 1970
from the two year program. He was in the
National Guard at this time, so in February
1970 he spent the next six months on active
duty.

The fall, 1970, Michael went to Sanford,
Florida. On April 17, 1971 he married Vickie
Lynn Justice, born April 14, 1952.

They have two children. Their names are
Michael Steven Morgan, II and Nicholas Aar-
on Morgan. Their ages are 1 6 and 9.

Michael's dad and grandpa talked him into
pole bean farming. Michael and his dad were
partners from May 1 972 until his dad's death
on May 6, 1982.

They raised pole beans until 1974. Then
they expanded to cucumbers, eggplant and
polebeans. Then in 1976 they stayed with
pole beans and eggplant. Michael still raises
them today.

In 1974 they started a tree farm. In 1985
they expanded with a partner in the tree farm.
His name is Jessse Staton. They have about 80
acres of nursery stock.

They have the vegetable farm (Morgan
Farms) in the summertime and in the winter-
time they have a nursery farm called River-
side Nursery.

Michael Steven Morgan is the sixth genera-
tion of farmers on this farm that was bought
by his great-great-great-grandpa, Daniel
Pace, in September 1838. This is the 150th
year that Michael's family has owned this
farm. Submitted by Michael Steven Morgan

THE NOLAND FARM

The farm of Hugh L. and Louie M. Noland
is another of the century farms of western
North Carolina. In early 1800, her great-
great-grandfather, Joseph McCracken came
from Habersham County, Georgia with his
bride, Sara Vaughn McCracken and settled
on a large tract of land that is located in the
Crabtree Township of Haywood County.

The Noland homeplace built in the late 1800s.

Her great grandfather, Hiram McCracken,
one of the 13 children of Joseph and Sara
McCracken, was born in 1821. In 1845 he
married Mary P. Howell and the two of them
made their home on a portion of the father's
holdings in Crabtree. There they raised a large
family, the fifth child born to them was David
(known as Billy) McCracken, who was the
grandfather of Mrs. Noland. David was born
in 1861 and in 1882 married Ellen Liner.

David (Billy) and Ellen also made their
home on acreage of the original Joseph
McCracken holdings. It was on this farm that
they made their living and raised their seven
children. The third child born to them, Lucy
McCracken, was the mother of Mrs. Noland.
In 1911 she married William A. Medford and
Mrs. Noland was the first child born to them.

Ellen McCracken lived in the home she and
David (Billy) built until her death in 1947.
Hugh and Louie Noland have lived in this
home since their marriage in 1 932, except for
a brief period during World War II. The farm
on which they live has been in her family for
over 1 50 years and their home was built in the
later 1800s.

Mr. Noland has farmed the land for many
years and since his retirement as Comptroller
of Champion International, in Canton, has

117

devoted all of his time to the farm and the
raising of beef cattle.

Submitted by Hugh L. and Louie Medford Noland
Henderson County

THE BRANNON FARM

Our land has been continuously farmed
since 1855 when great-grandfather, John Sit-
ton, purchased 400 acres for $2400. It is in the
Horse Shoe area of Henderson County and
lies partly along the French Broad River.

Shown here on the Brannon farm are several barns,
a tenant house, and the corner of the farm pond.

John Sitton's only child, Etta, married
Andrew Pierce Brannon shortly after the
death of her parents in 1907.

They continued farming and began milking
a few cows.

Pierce was an originator and Director of the
"Horse Shoe Cooperative Cheese Factory."
This was started and financed by local farm-
ers as a market for their milk and it operated
for a few years in the 1920s until other mar-
kets opened up. This was the beginning of
dairy industry in the western part of the coun-
ty.

Pierce bought the first registered heifer in
the county. He went to Gaffney, South Caroli-
na, and brought "Pioneer Beauty," a regis-
tered Guernsey, home in the back of a Model
T Ford.

Pierce and Etta had two sons, John Clif-
ford, born September 14, 1911, and died Feb-
ruary 21, 1979, who married Nancy Allen in
1938 and Carl Leonard, born May 19, 1909,
who married Helen Love in 1936.

Carl bought Clifford's part of the farm in
1961 and incorporated the farm business in
1963.

Carl and Helen have two sons: James Love,
who is the Controller for a company in Char-
lotte, and Andrew Carl, who after teaching 1 2
years in 1979, resigned to manage the farm
which had grown to a dairy herd of 80. He is
also president of the corporation.

We have 370 Holsteins and milk about 1 50.
Now we are going to an all registered herd.
Some of the cows are registered. We raise
mostly corn for silage and grain corn. About
200 acres of original land was sold, but we
have bought three other tracts and now own
425 acres.

James' son, Scott Richard, now 16, is inter-
ested in and loves every phase of farm life.
The family hopes he will continue the tradi-
tion of the farm and be the fifth generation
farmer. Submitted by Carl L. Brannon

Haywood — Henderson — Hertford

THE HAWKINS FARM

This parcel of land was obtained by E. Phi-
lo Hawkins around 1 874 from Col. Valentine
Ripley. Herman Bowman Hawkins, Sr., was
born on this property on September 21, 1875.
The farm was originally in the neighborhood
of 300 acres. E. Philo reared eight children on
this farm.

Hawkins family and boarders, at the farmhouse.

Most of the land was cleared by the family
and was a prosperous farm operation. The
land was well supplied with streams and had
a variety of terrain that accommodated dif-
ferent kinds of crops. Most of the land was
used to grow corn and hay, some was for cane,
molasses and truck farming crops such as cab-
bage and potatoes, and for shipping to market
by train, around the turn of the century.

About 1 890- 1 895, the family built a board-
ing house which accommodated boarders
from South Carolina, Georgia and Florida,
who came by train to Hendersonville. Her-
man B. Hawkins, Sr. drove the horse and car-
riage to meet the train.

Edward LeRoy Hawkins' first memories of
the farm were as a small boy, of the large team
of horses and his grandfather, his dad, and his
brothers picking up corn stalks from the clo-
ver meadows that were to be mowed for hay.

His father, Herman B. Hawkins, Sr.,
obtained 50 acres of the farm from my grand-
father about 1907, when he married my
mother, Emma Jones (granddaughter of Solo-
mon Jones, "The Road Builder"). This part of
the farm was our home from then to now.
Edward's family had a dairy farm. They culti-
vated most of the land and rented the pasture
land from his grandfather.

There were four boys in the family and they
all worked on the farm. When Edward's
father retired in the 1940s from the dairy
farm, he still farmed parts of the land and
leased it out a few years.

In 1964 Edward's father divided his farm
between the four boys. Edward received 1 8.5
acres on which he now lives with his wife of 45
years, Zoda Mae (McCraw) Hawkins, and
they grow a large vegetable garden. Edward is
the youngest son, born March 21, 1917.
Edward's son and grandson, William E. and
M. Derek Hawkins, will follow in ownership.
Edward's grandfather died in 1937, and his
father died in 1968.

Submitted by Edward LeRoy Hawkins

Hertford County

THE BURBAGE FARM

The farm was purchased in 1735 and deed-
ed to Samuel Warren in 1736 from William
Gooch. The property then went to Samuel's
son, Col. Etheldred Warren. Robert Warren,
bachelor son of Col. Etheldred Warren,
became owner of part of the Warren property
in 1818 and cultivated the soil of this large
plantation.

Taken on the Burbage farm. Dr. T.I. Burbage.

Robert brought his sister, Martha, and five
children to Cedar Hill to live with him after
the death of her husband (Elisha Winborne)
July 20, 1829. Robert cared for Martha's
property, provided by her husband, and sold
it for Martha's benefit.

Martha Winborne's son, Samuel Darden
Winborne, nephew of Robert Warren, inher-
ited a fair estate from Robert Warren to use to
the benefit of his sister, Martha Winborne,
during her natural life. At her death, the prop-
erty would go to Samuel Darden Winborne.
There was over 1 ,000 acres of farm property.
In 1847 when the state military was orga-
nized, Samuel was made major in his county.
He was a friend to the Confederate soldiers
and to the poor. He was appointed a cadet to
the Military Academy at West Point in 1 839.
He married Mary Pretlow. Samuel Winborne
died April 3, 1895, at the age of 74. Mr. Win-
borne left his family well endowed. He willed
his daughter, Annie Winborne Burbage, 135
acres of farmland with a home on the proper-
ty. He left each survivor equally as much. She
married Dr. Thomas I. Burbage, a young
practicing physician, on June 6, 1887. Annie
loved the farm home so they lived with her
family for a short while.

The Winborne farm was self-sustaining.
The only items of food bought were coffee,
tea, sugar and white flour. Fruits and nuts of
all kinds, from the earliest to latest varieties,
were grown at home. All surplus was con-
served and stored for winter. There were milk
cows which furnished an abundance of milk,
butter and cream. Beef was slaughtered for
table use while hogs and lambs were butch-
ered for family use and for sale. Chickens and
eggs were available for home use and for sale.

Dr. Burbage could not persuade his wife to
settle in a near-by town, so they moved from
his wife's parents house into another house on
the farm and there they reared their six chil-
dren. Their cottage home was first used for an
overseers home. As the Burbage family grew,
additions were added to the home.

118

Dr. Burbage and Mrs. Burbage purchased
1 54 acres of Winborne land which was left to
Mrs. Burbage's sister, Ella Winborne Savage,
by her father, S.D. Winborne. Dr. Burbage
died April 1 5, 1 928. On June 23,1932 Sadie
J. Burbage and Samuel Thomas Burbage pur-
chased Burbage property of 289 acres from
Annie W. Burbage.

At the death of Sadie J. Burbage, daughter,
Margaret Burbage Whitley, and son, Samuel
Thomas Burbage, Jr., came into possession of
the property. This last transaction of property
(289 acres) is only a small part of the original
plantation.

Samuel Thomas Burbage, Jr. has cultivated
this part of the plantation for over 50 years
and is at the age of retirement but continues
with his farming operation. The crops grown
are peanuts, corn, soybeans and garden prod-
ucts. The growing of sugar cane for molasses,
growing cotton plus raising sheep, swine,
chickens and geese have played a part in the
Burbage farm life.

At present, Walter D. Gray and Ann Bur-
bage Gray, daughter of Samuel Thomas Bur-
bage, Jr., own and occupy the Burbage home
with their two sons, Walter Dale Gray, Jr. and
Trent Burbage Gray. Walter Jr. is a senior at
VPI College, Blacksburg, Virginia and Trent
is a freshman at Elon College, Elon, North
Carolina. Submitted by Mrs. R.G. Whitley

THE OUTLAND FARM

Sometime in 1861 a 300 acre tract of land
which lies in Hertford County in a small com-
munity known as Menola, was given to
Rebecca Liverman Outland by her father,
John. He owned a vast amount of land which
dates back as far as the 1 840s.

Outland farm in Menola community, Hertford

Rebecca married Richard Garner Outland
in 1844. They had six children. One was
Oscar Robert, born on September 22, 1881.
He was born and raised in the original home.
The original house burned down during the
late 1950s or early 60s.

This was a working farm with crops and all
types of animals. Richard took time out from
farming and served as a cook during the Civil
War.

Oscar was given a tract of 25 acres more or
less sometime around 1900. He married
Maude Carter from Murfreesboro in Febru-
ary of 1 9 1 2. They had one son, Oscar Glenn,
born January 5, 1913. The present owner of
the farm lives in that home that he built from
frame timber that was grown on the farm.

Due to illness and death, the original tract
was lost from the Outland family, except the

Hertford— Hyde

25 acres owned by my Oscar Robert in the
1950s.

Oscar Robert farmed the land along with
his son, Oscar Glenn, until his death in 1 965.
Corn, cotton, tobacco and peanuts along with
hogs were raised.

At Oscar Glenn's death in 1974, the farm
was left to Patricia Outland Burke and her sis-
ter, Lindsay. Their mother continues to live
in the home.

In 1976 Patricia and her husband, remod-
eled the home. They did not change the out-
side appearance, only improved it.

Linda Ann's husband, Jerry E. Lindsay,
farms the farm today.

Linda Ann's husband, Jerry, is also a
descendant of Rebecca Liverman's father,
John P. Liverman, who originated from
Menola. Submitted by Patricia Outland Burke

THE THOMAS FARM

Three generations of the Abraham Thomas
family have been landowners and farmers in
Hertford County. Abraham Thomas, born
November 26, 1 799, came to Hertford Coun-
ty from Bertie County and married Nancy
Mitchell. Abraham purchased additional
farmland amounting to over 1200 acres. He
cleared a piece of land and built his home
where he reared his four children, Mary, Mar-
tha, John Q. and Rascius P. Thomas (born
September 2, 1845).

Abraham Thomas worked hard to clear
land for cultivation. He was a faithful public
servant and a judge for special court. Mr.
Thomas died April 13, 1879, leaving his prop-
erty to the four children.

Rascius P., who had completed his medical
education at the University of New York and
returned to the farm to practice, bought out
his brother and sisters. He was married to
Mary Mitchell of Franklinton, North Caroli-
na in 1 879. Their four children were William
"Will" Abraham, Robert Green, Mary P. and
Ruth Mitchell. In 1888 he built the present
Thomas house.

Dr. Thomas was a beloved and successful
physician. However, his health did not permit
him to continue his practice. He retired to
farming with much success.

The family food supply was grown on the
farm with only sugar, tea, coffee and white
flour purchased. A steam pressure canner was
used to preserve uncured meats. A potato
house was built especially for storing potatoes

with double walls insulated with cotton seed
and sand. Jersey milk cows from Jersey Island
supplied milk for everyday use. The sheep
raised supplied wool for sale and for family
blankets. A cotton gin was operated on the
plantation.

Dr. Thomas died October 29, 1916 at the
age of 71. William A. and Robert Green fol-
lowed in their father's footsteps. They operat-
ed the farm and cared for their sisters and
mother (died February 17, 1928). Robert died
January 1 1, 1926 at the age of 39 with pneu-
monia.

William, known as "Will," was for many
years a member and chairman of the Hertford
County Committee on Agricultural Stabiliza-
tion and Conservation.

In 1916a Delco light system was installed
and operated by a generator, then electricity
came into the home in 1950. Will Thomas
died October 18, 1975 at the age of 95, leaving
his unmarried sisters, Mary and Ruth, at the
homeplace.

Mary graduated from Chowan College and
taught school 33 years. She assumed the role
of head of the house after her mother's death.
Miss Mary died in 1981.

Present owner, Ruth Thomas (third genera-
tion), resides at the Thomas home and has
lived there all her life (91 years). Miss Ruth
raised chickens, and in 1 927-28 provided eggs
for Vann Hatchery in Murfreesboro and Tod-
ds Hatchery in Bertie County. She continued
her chicken business and kept a poultry
record. January 20, 1928, the record showed
34,480 eggs produced a year.

Miss Ruth was a member of the Tomato
Club cultivating 1/10 acre of tomatoes. She
canned tomatoes in tin cans with the use of a
special boiling water bath canner.

The century farm ownership certificate was
awarded in September 1975.

Farming operations still go on at the Thom-
as place using all modern equipment.

The doctor's office, smokehouse, potato
house, farm barn as well as homestead is still
on the plantation.

Submitted by Miss Ruth Thomas

Hyde County

THE BRIDGMAN FARM

The earliest records of Bridgmans in Hyde
County are land transactions. Thomas Bridg-
man bought land around 1 785. He was a far-

Dr. Rascius P. Thomas and Will Thomas with a herd of cows.

119

Hyde

The Clarke house, Wynne's Folly.

mer and as farming goes, had some lean years
and on the 7th day of January 1791, he
swapped 50 acres to John Davis for 36 barrels
of Indian corn.

Thomas Bridgman had three known sons,
James who would have come to Hyde County
with him; Thomas and Joseph being born
here.

In 1850 one of Thomas Bridgman's grand-
sons, Green Bridgman, son of James, wrote
William Bridgman in New York. William
sent the letter to his father, also William
Bridgman in Springfield, Massachusetts. A
copy of William's answer to Green, dated July
17, 1850, still survives. This correspondence
concerned genealogy, leading one to believe
that Thomas Bridgman came to Hyde County
from the New England area. Also many
names in both areas were the same.

It was the second son, Thomas, who on
December 1 0, 1 833 bought 1 1 3 acres in Rose
Bay community. It is a part of this purchase
that is now the century farm. He had ten chil-
dren; five girls and five boys, and stated in his
will of 1858 that the farm was to be sold. At
the time of his death, the original 1 13 acres
had been sold off to 47.5 acres. When the land
was sold, it was bought by one of his five sons,
John Langston Bridgman in 1871. John, in
addition to running the farm, captained a two
masted schooner, the "Minnie," from Rose
Bay to Washington, North Carolina, carrying
farm produce and livestock, bringing back
fertilizer, lime and anything that farmers
ordered, plus wholesale items for storekeep-
ers.

John L. Bridgman reared three children,
two girls and a son, Thomas Edward (T.E.)
Bridgman. After John L. Bridgman's death,
October 20, 1 9 1 6 as stated in his will, the 47.5
acres were divided between the three chil-
dren.

T.E. Bridgman got the one third containing
the home and the graveyard. He farmed this
1 6 acres and did some commercial fishing. He
reared two daughters, who at his death in
1950, continued to look after the farm, rent-
ing it out.

Today the farm is still owned by Bridgman
heirs and long range plans are to keep it that
way. Submitted by Carroll D. Gibbs

THE CLARKE FARM

The Clarke house, known as Wynne's Fol-
ly, is a Greek Revival type of architecture,
two-story built circa 1 845, and is located near
Engelhard in Hyde County. Dr. Edward
Clarke, a physician, came to Hyde to practice
medicine and surgery. He bought the house
and land from Mrs. Mary L. Spencer in 1 882,

and it has been owned by a Clarke descendant
since that time. A small house in the corner of
the yard was used as a medical office. Dr.
Clarke helped organize St. George's Episco-
pal Church and was a member of the first Ves-
try.

Dr. Clarke married Florence Mary Gibbs
and from this union there were four children.
Upon Dr. Clarke's death, his son, Seth,
bought the property from the other heirs. Seth
married Laura Nicholson Tankard and there
were five children: Edward Rayden, Florence
Mary, Macon, Laura and Camille.

The story is told that Mr. Richard Wynne
had the house built to impress the young
woman he was planning to marry. The bride
to be changed her mind. A friend suggested to
Mr. Wynne to call the house Wynne's Folly.

The house is approximately 40x40 with
eight rooms enhanced by a fireplace in every
room. The main central entrance has a double
door, each leaf having a long Greek Revival
panel. This is flanked by four light side lights
and surmounted by a four light transom and
cover lights. The doorway at the second level
has a single two panel Greek Revival door and
transom. The single door treatment recurs at
the first and second levels on the sides. The
floors are made of heart pine throughout the
house.

Within, the house is characterized by spa-
ciousness and simplicity. Four large rooms
are separated by interesting halls running in a
T-shaped arrangement on each floor. A hand-
somely treated transverse arch carried on flat
paneled pilasters occurs at the junction of the
two halls on the first floor. The stair, using the
north end of the cross hall, features a heavy
turned newel and turned baluster of walnut.

The land surrounding the house has grown
either corn or soybeans throughout the years.
Cotton has been grown, but not in recent
years. Submitted by Camille B. Clarke

THE JENNETTE FARM

The Jennette farm is located in southeast-
ern Hyde County where it joins Lake Matta-
muskeet. This farm has been in the same fam-
ily since 1 772, when it was purchased by John
Jennett (originally no "e") from John Ser-
man.

The Jennette homeplace, 1970.

John Jennett died in 1 774 leaving the prop-
erty to his son, Robert, a member of the N.C.
Legislature. Robert gave his son, Thomas, the
land in 1814. About this time the first struc-
ture was built — two rooms with beaded
beams and wide Cyprus paneling. This build-
ing still stands and is used as a barn.

After Thomas death in 1832, his brother,
Robert, purchased the farm from Thomas'
widow, Ann, who had remarried Selby Wat-
son. In 1850 Robert gave his son, Henry, the
property. During the years the farm was
owned by Robert and Henry, the major por-
tion of the homeplace was built. It consisted
of a simple four room structure with adjoin-
ing kitchen and dining room. A wash house,
barns, smokehouse, carriage house, tenant
houses and privy with six seats were built.

By 1857 Henry and his wife, Martha Far-
row, were living in this house. Among the
things listed in Henry's inventory of 1865
were corn, wheat, Irish potatoes, apples, cot-
ton, oxen, cows, burros, hogs, horses, corn
shellers, ox carts, plows, a hand mill and a
grindstone, all indicating typical farm pro-
duction and equipment of that period.

Thomas Henry, son of Henry, acquired the
property after his father's death in 1 864. After
graduating from Eastern College in New
York, Thomas returned home to farm. In
1903, he and his wife, Rena Sparrow,
enlarged their home. By this time soybeans
had been introduced to Hyde County by a sea
captain returning from the Orient. Thomas
had a thresher to harvest the newly discov-
ered "miracle crop."

Thomas died in 1 934 and his son, Thomas
Armistead, acquired the property. Armistead
returned to marry Myra Gray Mann and to
farm after he received his education from
Bingham Military Academy, Randolf Macon
Institute and N.C. State College. With the
land's rich yield of crops, orchards, gardens,
its livestock and the great migration of wild
geese and ducks to Lake Mattamuskeet, as
well as the bounty of close by Pamlico Sound
providing oysters, clams, fish and shrimp, the
farm proved almost self-sufficient. Wild fowl
provided not only meat for the table, but
feathers to make pillows and mattresses.
Wool from the sheep was made into blankets.

After her father's death in 1969, Tra Jen-
nette Perry, wife of Linnie D. Perry II and
mother of Thomas Armistead and Elizabeth
Dow, inherited the property.

The 1 75 acre farm continues to yield its fine
harvest and the homeplace, surrounded by
fences, pecan groves, gardens, orchards and
many outbuildings, serves as a proud monu-
ment to eight generations of Jennettes who
have toiled, loved and cared for this good
land. Submitted by Tra Perry

THE A.B. SWINDELL FARM

The Albin B. Swindell homeplace is now
occupied by his granddaughter, Mary Louise

The Albin B. Swindell homeplace, which was placed
on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

120

Swindell McGee, inherited from her father, J.
Harry Swindell after his death in 1979.

The 120 acres was purchased from
Ambrose Howard in 1877. It is located at
Swindell Fork, approximately four miles east
of Swan Quarter. The main harvest of corn
and soybeans continues. Cotton planting dis-
continued in the 1930s. Mrs. McGee's broth-
ers, John Harold and Russell, were intro-
duced to farming by their uncle, A.B.
Swindell, III, and assisted him until his death.

The brothers established homes and farms
nearby. In 1951 Russell was elected as a mem-
ber of the N.C. House of Representatives and
later moved to Cary. John Harold combined
family farms into one operation where he
worked and supervised until retirement.

J. Harry Swindell operated the general mer-
cantile business of "A.B. Swindell and Sons,"
established in 1 875 by his father until 1 978.

The drummer (traveling salesman), early
traveler and neighbors were always welcomed
at mealtime to a bountiful table of fruits, veg-
etables, fowl and meat raised on the land and
served by Mrs. Swindell (Mary Atkinson). In
1 937 Hazel Asby (Mrs. R. Lane), orphaned by
tragedy, was welcomed as a family member.

In August 1986 the Swindell house and
store was placed on the National Register of
Historic Places. This is quoted from the nom-
inator. "The Swindell family store, house and
various outbuildings, and its acreage, repre-
sent and essentially unchanged early twenti-
eth-century mercantile/farm operation sig-
nificant locally as a trading center or the
farmers and seasonal hunters and fisherman
in Hyde County for over a hundred years.

Submitted by Mary Louise Swindell McGee

Iredell County

THE ALLISON FARM

The 2 1 4 acre century farm was once a part
of 600 acres which Robert Allison once
owned and later sold in smaller tracts to the
Cloaningers and Vanderburgs. It is located on
Highway 21 north of Mooresville.

lib

Emma Kennerly Boyd in 1986.

Robert Allison had five children, four of
whom migrated to Tennessee and Kentucky,
leaving him without anyone to take care of
him. John Alphonso Allison had to serve in
the Civil War, and afterwards stayed with and
took care of him. It was during that time that
Robert made his will, willing the farm to
John, and if he never came back, some of the
land was to go to some of his slaves.

After the war ended, John came back home
and married Euphemia E. Mills. Twins were

Hyde — Iredell

born, a girl and boy. The mother and son died.
The girl survived. She was Euphemia Allison
(Kennerly). Since Euphemia Allison was an
only child, she inherited the farm in 1914.

Before Euphemia Allison Kennerly passed
away, the cousins came back to North Caroli-
na from Tennessee and Kentucky and wanted
to see where their great-grandparents once
lived. Euphemia of course was surprised, but
was glad to see and meet them. About two
weeks after they had gone back, she had a let-
ter from a lawyer in Greensboro telling her
that they had come all the way there to get him
(lawyer) to go with them to the courthouse in
Statesville, the county seat of Iredell County,
to look up the will to the farm and found that
not only had it been willed, but also deeded to
John A. Allison.

Euphemia Allison Kennerly died in 1952
and left the farm to Emma Kennerly (Boyd).
Emma is now 88 years old and it is near the
time for her three children to soon become
heirs to it. They are Mrs. Lavon Boyd Atwell,
Albert L. and Allen S. Boyd (twins), seven
grandchildren and one great-grandchild —
thus, seven generations. The Allison farm has
been in the family 155 years or perhaps lon-
ger. Submitted by Emma Kennerly Boyd

THE ANDERSON FARM

In August of 1 880 Benjamin and Elizabeth
Turner sold 200 acres to Evan J. Thomas.
Evan J. Thomas was a confederate veteran of
the Civil War. He arrived in Iredell County
sometime after the war with his wife, Laura,
and family of several children.

In March 1885 Evan J. Thomas purchased
204 acres from Wilfred and Dorcas Turner.
He purchased other holdings later on also.
This property was on Little Dutchman Creek.

In April 1 900 70 acres of his estate were
passed to his daughter, Janie Thomas, and
128 acres to his son, William Van Thomas.

In December 1924 36 acres were trans-
ferred to William Van Thomas and 50 acres to
Janie Thomas. Both parties received other
acreage by purchase or inheritance from other
unmarried brothers.

In March 1953 Robert S. Thomas received
80 acres from his father William Van.

In April 1967 Robert S. Thomas inherited
80 acres from his aunt, Janie Thomas.

Robert S. Thomas passed away in May of
1983. In settling his estate, 75 acres of this
combined acreage was transferred to his
daughter, Josephine Thomas Anderson. This
was part of the original holdings of Evan J.
and Laura Thomas in Iredell County near Mt.
Bethel Church and on Little Dutchman
Creek. Submitted by Josephine T. Anderson

THE BEAVER FARM

Shortly after the end of the Civil War Alex-
ander Beaver and his three sons, Emanuel,
Adolphus, and Michael Nathaniel came to
Iredell County from Rowan County. All three
sons were Confederate War veterans. They
bought land which was a part of the Granville
Grant and settled in Iredell County.

Alexander, his sons and grandsons cleared
the virgin forests and the land was used for
general purpose farming for some 50 years.
The Beavers were also craftsmen who
excelled in making fine furniture from the
walnut and cherry trees on the farm.

The Beaver home, taken May 26, 1975.

After World War I, Newton A. and Arthur
J., sons of Michael Nathaniel became well-
known for their produce, especially canta-
loupes and large watermelons which they
trucked to neighboring towns.

In the 1 920s, Newton A. became a dairy far-
mer. He chose Jersey cows along with many
other farmers in Iredell County due to the
leadership of county agent Ray Morrow.

Leon McDuffy (better known as Mack), son
of Newton A., became a partner in the busi-
ness with his father in 1945. The Jersey cows
were replaced with Holsteins and the dairy
became an important Grade A milk business
in the county.

In 1975 Mack Beaver, Jr. returned home
from North Carolina State University. He
began dairy farming with his father and soon
became a partner in Beaver Farms.

Five generations of Beavers have lived and
farmed the Beaver lands since the 1860s.
Their land now includes 240 acres in two
tracts. The Beavers also rent 400 acres of land
from neighboring farmers on which they raise
tons of hay and forage for their herds.

Beaver men have been noted for their deep
love for their land and what can be produced
on it. Mack Beaver and his son Mack. Jr. have
inherited that same feeling. No doubt it will
be handed down to Mack, Jr.'s little son,
Lucas Michael, and Beaver Farms will contin-
ue well into the next century.

Submitted by L.M. Beaver

THE CRAWFORD-LYNN FARM

In November 1876 William Henry Craw-
ford purchased a 100 acre tract of land from
his brother-in-law Albertus Pharr Murdock,
adjoining his father's farm about five miles
east of Statesville.

The Crawford homeplace.

Here, W.H. Crawford established a nursery
business where pecan grove, fruit trees and a
variety of shrubs remain, as a century-old leg-

acy. A son, Eugene Morrison Crawford, later
joined him in the business, which was known
as W.H. Crawford and Son.

In 1901 a fire destroyed the original dwell-
ing. Neighbors living several miles away knew
the Crawford house was burning because they
recognized bits of wallpaper blown into their
yard. Eight decades later W.H. Crawford's
great-great-granddaughters Katie Leigh and
Lesley Lynn Templeton still unearth shards of
china and melted glass from the fire while
playing in the yard. Another house, built in
1902, stands today on the same site as the
original house, and through the years has
undergone renovations to accommodate the
generations who continue to live there.

When W.H. Crawford died in 1 9 1 2, his son
carried on the nursery business and farmed
the land he has inherited. Eugene Crawford's
sister, Margaret Marianne, married John
Macon Lynn from Catawba County, and they
lived in the Crawford home with her brother,
who never married. A daughter, Eugenia, and
later a son, Charles Crawford, were born to
Margaret (Maggie as she was called) and J.M.
Lynn, and they too grew up at the Crawford
homeplace.

A few years before his death in 1962,
Eugene Crawford conveyed his farm to his
nephew, Charles Crawford Lynn, and his
niece, Eugenia Lynn Shuffler. The portion
deeded to Charles contains the Crawford
home where he lives with his wife, Millicent
Hoskins, and where their only daughter, Pat-
tie Margaret grew up.

Traffic lights, city limits and housing devel-
opments move ever closer, but the old Craw-
ford home continues to sit in the middle of the
58 acres deeded to Charles C. Lynn by his
uncle, out of the original 100 acre tract, and
Black Angus cattle graze serenely in the pas-
tures surrounding the home.

Submitted by Charles Crawford Lynn

THE DOUGLAS FARM

In 1975 the Douglas homeplace, Iredell
County, housing 1 separate family units and
several generations was recognized by the
North Carolina Department of Agriculture as
one of the state's century farms. Since 1847
this has been family farmland with cotton,
corn, wheat and soybean crops grown through
the years. Vegetable gardens fruit orchards,
home grown meats and dairy products have
provided nutritious foods.

i
FT

j| .f

The "old Amity Place of Wm. Feimster lands."

Captain William Feimster (born 1759, my
great-great-great-grandfather) was a planter
and extensive land holder (some grants) in the
area (Iredell, then Rowan). His son Abner

Iredell

Feimster, held the deed to this farm in 1847,
referred to in old deeds as the "Amity tract of
the Feimster lands." "Amity" was the name
of the ARP Church located in about the center
of this farm and organized in 1848 in the
home of Abner Feimster on this place.

Through the years, ownership of this "Ami-
ty place of the Feimster lands" came on down
to William Feimster and wife, Mary Sharpe
Feimster's great granddaughter, Margaret
Sharpe Douglas, and her husband, Julius Per-
kins Douglas. Julius Perkins Douglas (my
grandfather), a teacher and later a federal rev-
enue officer, also carried on farming with the
help of good black families who lived on the
place. J. P. Douglas' home, a two-story house
they moved here in 1875 piece by piece num-
bered from his father, David R. Douglas',
land. The house was reassembled and stood
here at the Amity homesite until 1921 when
David Edgar Douglas (my father) built the
present structure (on same Amity site) from
timber on the place he now owned.

David Edgar Douglas' father, Julius, died
when his son was only 1 2, thus placing a heavy
responsibility on the young boy's shoulders.
He proved to be most reliable and capable in
looking after his widowed mother and youn-
ger children and in carrying on general farm-
ing and later timber work.

David Edgar Douglas and his wife, Annie
Elizabeth Halyburton Douglas, lived here
together 60 years. Their children: Clyde,
Charles, Lorena, Lucy, Russell, Roy, John,
Mary and David, Jr.; their daughter, Mary
Douglas Warren (Mrs. Luther Warren); their
sons, David Edgar Douglas, Jr., and family;
Russell Douglas and family; and Roy Doug-
las' (deceased) family now live on the land.

Through the years, many buildings were
erected here on the farm — three barns, the
last barn, red, still intact; a log smokehouse
for home cured hams; the cabin house home
for farm helpers; wagon and buggy sheds; corn
cribs; mill house for grinding cornmeal and
feed (for animals); grain house; blacksmith
shop; gear shed; molasses-making shed; wash
house; pig pens; wood sheds; tool shops;
chicken houses; dairy house; small storage
building; little houses built for growing sons;
three play houses built for daughters, the last
one built for granddaughter Douglas Anne,
later used by young great grandson, Sam, as a
boys clubhouse; sheds for harvester combine
and tractors; and five wells, dug or drilled.
The first well, dug in 1 878 and the first well in
the community, marked the beginning of a
new era in farm water supply as compared to
the natural springs down in the meadow near-
by. This well furnished water for the home
and farm, as well as for the nearby Midway
School and Old Amity Church.

Also on the farmland, Midway Public
School was built in 1 897 on land given by my
grandmother Douglas (then a widow). Old
Amity ARP Church stood near the center of
the farm until it moved to Scotts in 1910.
David Edgar Douglas then organized and
helped build Midway Methodist Church in
1911, also on land given by grandmother
Douglas, David Edgar Douglas and later land
given by Margaret S. Douglas, David Edgar
Douglas, Lucy Elizabeth Douglas, Luther and
Mary Douglas Warren. The second and pres-
ent church (brick) was constructed in 1958

with Margaret and Julius Douglas' grandson
being chairman of the building committee.

Long past the century mark, on into the sec-
ond century, the good earth, the farmland
remains. Seed-time and harvest is a promise
and those who love and till the soil help to
keep that promise. Submitted by Mary Douglas
Warren (Mrs. Luther Warren)

THE PREVETTE FARM

The Prevette farm is located in New Hope
Township of Iredell County and is part of the
land from the large land holdings of the Wil-
liams family of north Iredell County.

Harrison T. and Roxie Williams holding grand-
daughter, Sybil Bowles, beside the log corn crib.

The first purchase of land in Iredell County
by the Williams family was in 1 783. Samuel
Williams purchased 20 acres in 1 785. Samuel
continued to add to his land holdings and the
1 8 1 5 tax list showed him with 927 acres. Sam-
uel's will was probated in 1816 and
Theophilus inherited Samuel's land.
Theophilus passed land to James W. Wil-
liams.

James W. Williams acquired part of the
Shelton land through his first wife, Catherine
L. Shelton. He purchased additional land and
with his inherited Williams land and the Shel-
ton land, he had a total of 748 acres. Harrison
T. Williams inherited part of this land.

Harrison T. Williams added purchased
land to the James W. Williams land and in
1920, Bertha Williams Prevette inherited
from her father, Harrison T. Williams, a share
of this land. J. Harry Prevette inherited this
share in 1963 at the death of his mother.

Over the past 60 years my family has grown
cotton, corn, wheat, beef and dairy cattle on
this land. Today the entire tract is planted in
Loblolly and Virginia pine trees.

Other tracts of the Williams' land are
owned by Sybil Bowles, who lives on the land,
Kathleen Hayes Myers and Calvin Hayes of
North Wilkesboro, Richard Williams of
Statesville and other descendants of Dr. Joe
V. Williams and Euphronues Williams.

Submitted by J. Harry Prevette

122

THE REDMOND FARM

In 1808 Hosea Redmond purchased from
Isaac Holloway 78 acres of farmland in the
New Hope Township of Iredell County,
North Carolina. He moved there with his
family shortly thereafter. With other lands
purchased or inherited later this farm became
the nerve center of a thriving enterprise of
several hundred acres and, quite well, sup-
ported a healthy and hearty family of six sons,
two daughters and more than thirty slaves.

L to R: Dean Redmond, Peggy, Sandra and Ronald.

Upon the death of Hosea Redmond in
1865, this farm was among the lands that
passed to his youngest son, G. Washington
Redmond, who continued the farming opera-
tions with several of the slaves living on in the
same huts as farm tenants. Among these
slaves was a black preacher. Jack Redmond, a
very large and powerful man who became
something of a patriarch among the black
people of the area. Washington raised a fami-
ly of two sons and four daughters.

When Washington Redmond died in 1 897,
this farm passed to his youngest son, Cicero
C. Redmond, who continued the farming
operations while becoming a merchant and
miller as added occupations. Cicero and his
wife, Vertie, raised a family of seven sons and
one daughter. They built a home in 1912 on
the farm just a short distance from the origi-
nal homeplace of Hosea Redmond.

Upon the death of Cicero C. Redmond in
1962, this farm passed to his children, the
fourth generation, who own and operate the
farm. Submitted by Dean Redmond

THE SHARPE FARM

This century farm located about ten miles
northwest of Statesville was purchased in
1870 by Calvin M. Sharpe. When he pur-

Mrs. Charles Walter Sharpe and her six sons, L to R:
Dwight, McCoy, Conway, Mrs. Charles Sharpe,
Harold, Kenneth and Forrest.

Iredell

chased the 228 acres of land, it included a
plantation house that had been built by a cap-
tain who served in the Revolutionary War.
The house was built around 1 820 and was sur-
rounded by small buildings which had housed
slaves prior to the Civil War. A blacksmith
shop was also near the main house. The main
portion of the house is still standing and is
included in the National Register of Historic
Places.

Calvin Sharpe reared six children on this
farm, several of whom purchased nearby land
to establish their own farms as they married
and left home. A son, Charles Walter,
remained on the homeplace and inherited the
land through his father's will. He continued to
do general farming of the land and was assist-
ed by the six sons and one daughter who were
born to him and his wife Emma.

In 1919 Charles Walter purchased an
adjoining 96 acres to expand the farm and the
family moved to a large house that was
already built on the land. As the children grew
and later married, three of the sons remained
on this farm working it for their full-time
occupations. The sons grew crops of cotton,
wheat, and oats. They also owned some dairy
cows to provide milk for their families and
eventually sold milk to the Carnation Milk
Company when the company sent milk trucks
on routes to pick up the product.

Around 1950 the Sharpe brothers began
specializing in growing certified hybrid seed
corn along with other small grains. They oper-
ated a wholesale seed business for their prod-
ucts. For several years they grew experimental
seed crops for North Carolina State Universi-
ty-
After operating a thriving, successful farm
for over 60 years together, Harold, McCoy
and Kenneth have since passed away and the
farm is now being operated by their children
who continue to work it on a part-time basis.
Much of this century farm has been turned
into pastureland with grazing herds of Black
Angus cattle. Submitted by Linda Sharpe Goodin

THE STEVENSON FARM

The Stevenson name is legendary in the
Iredell County area. Ancestry of the family, as
is true of many other Scotch-Irish, can be
traced back to the lowlands of Scotland.

In 1875 John William Stevenson added this two sto-
ry front section on the existing one story farmhouse.

The first settlers came south from Pennsyl-
vania and Maryland in the early 1 750s. They
found it comparatively easy to establish
homes and rear large families. The Catawba
Indians were peaceful and helpful neighbors,

but the sudden attacks of the warlike Chero-
kees from the west forced them to take refuge
from time to time in Fort Dobbs.

The original property was purchased in
1 76 1 for the sum of ten shillings sterling mon-
ey. The land purchase was through Lord
Granville instead of land speculators and
contained 369 acres.

The first home on this site, located .8 of a
mile east of Third Creek, Statesville, was a
one-story farmhouse built for John William
Stevenson. In 1875 he added the two story
frame front section with exterior and chim-
neys, distinguished by a delicate sawn-work
eaves ornament.

This has been a continuous farm family and
the property now comprises 100 acres after
being divided among family heirs. The origi-
nal land grant hangs in the original homeplace
occupied by Mrs. John D. Stevenson and her
son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs.
Charles G. Stevenson. The farm operation
has been handled by Charles Stevenson for
the past 35 years.

Submitted by Charles G. Stevenson

THE THOMAS FARM

When Evan Jackson Thomas returned
from the Civil War, he and his wife Laura
bought land in the Turnersburg township of
Iredell County. They bought this land from a
Turner family who was moving to Texas.

On this homestead Evan and Laura raised
five boys and one girl. Evan increased his
acreage until his death in 1888. Laura out-
lived two of her sons and remained on the
homestead with her daughter, Janie Thomas.
Laura died in 1932 at the age of 99. Janie's
nephew Robert Thomas and his bride, Thel-
ma came to live with Janie at the homestead
at this time.

Robert had polio at the age of four years
and walked with crutches all of his adult life.
The farm was under his management until
Janie's death in 1967, after which he and
Thelma inherited the farm. Robert raised
mostly grain and hay, although he did raise
cotton in the early years. Because Robert used
crutches, most of the time he supervised the
work, although he was known to drive a trac-
tor in a pinch. One example is that a field
needed to be plowed and there was no help
available. Robert climbed on the tractor and
drove to the field. Unfortunately he left his
crutches in his truck and when the tractor
malfunctioned, he had to crawl to his truck
which was parked one-half mile away to get
tools. Robert and Thelma by this time had a
total acreage of 300 acres. Robert supervised
the hay operation until his death at the age of
80 in 1983, although he had rented the grain
acreage for the last few years. At his death, the
farm was deeded to his two daughters, Addie
and Josephine.

At the present time, the daughters rent the
farm which is still growing grain and hay.

Submitted by Addie Thomas Bradsher

THE WESTON FARM

In 1876 Wesley Privette and his wife, the
former Sarah Rash, purchased approximately
200 acres of land about five miles north of
Statesville in what is known today as the
Chipley Ford community near South River
Baptist Church.

The steam thrashing machine that killed Willia,
Frances Weston, 1901.

Two thirds of the Privette farm, in its early
years, consisted of woodlands and the prima-
ry source of income was derived from the sale
of corn, wheat, cotton and milk from a few
cows.

The first buildings on the Privette farm
were a two-story log house and a log barn.
Original equipment included a steam tractor,
mules, a Fordson tractor, etc. In early years,
since whole milk could not be sold, cream was
skimmed off the milk and marketed.

Wesley and Sarah Privette had several chil-
dren. However, the farm was later turned
over to a daughter, Armenda, and her hus-
band, William Frances Weston. Frances was
killed on the farm on July 12, 1901, when he
was crushed between a steam engine tractor
and a thrashing machine.

In 1914a new house was built even though
the original log house was still used. In 1932
there was a new barn built and sometime lat-
er, both the original log barn and house were
removed.

By 1918 the farm had transferred to anoth-
er descendant, a son of Frances and Armenda
Weston — Wesley Oren Weston and his wife,
Esther Cross Weston.

W.O. Weston cleared more land and grew
more cotton, corn, wheat and oats. In addi-
tion, he had a steam engine and a sawmill.

By the time W.O. Weston retired from the
family farm business, his herd had increased
from three cows to approximately 30 cows.
Milking was done by hand and the Westons
grew feed on the farm for the cattle.

A block "milking parlor," which included
20 stalls for the convenience of electric milk-
ing, was added to the farm in 1940. W.O.
Weston continued to work the grain crops and
a few cows he did not sell, even after his retire-
ment.

After W.O. and Esther Weston retired
about 1975, the next descendants to operate
and manage the farm were their son and
grandson Wesley Gilbert and Wesley Boyd
Weston.

Boyd Weston began helping with the farm
operations while he was attending elementary
school. By the time he completed his studies
at West Iredell High School he had built his
herd to about 20 cows.

The farm today is a partnership of Wesley
Gilbert Weston, Wesley Boyd Weston and
Beatrice D. Weston. It is identified by the
name Twin Oaks Jersey Farm on which 70 all
Jersey cows of a herd of approximately 100
are milked.

W.O. and Esther reside in the early 1900
farm home and own the farm. He is 92 and she
is 9 1 . Submitted by Wesley Boyd Weston

Iredell — Johnston

Johnston County

THE ALLEN FARM

This land was originally owned by Pinkney
Partin, who married Lucy Stewart in 1828.
This couple were the grandparents of my
mother, Mary Lenna Smith. My grandfather,
James Archie Smith, married Lucy Ann Par-
tin in 1 877, from whom the century farm was
inherited. My mother received her share of
the farm on October 23, 1 929 after her father
died in August of that year.

The land was deeded to Evett Denning,
Annie Lee Allen, Louise Miley, Florence Sor-
rell, Robert Denning and David Denning,
April 24, 1947.

Part of the house which was built in 1849
stands today. It was built in two sections, the
big house and the kitchen. The kitchen, din-
ing room and dairy were separate units. At
one end of the porch stood the dairy where
milk was kept. Back of the kitchen was a big
pantry, where the meal and flour were stored
in barrels. Lard was also stored here in 25
pound lard stands.

There was a dirt walkway between the
kitchen and the big house. To enter the big
house, which was built high off the ground (no
underpinning), one had to climb many steps
to get on the porch. Over the right of the front
door stood a washstand which held a bucket
of drinking water. Usually a nice clean gourd,
or dipper stayed in the bucket of water which
was always fresh from a nearby well.

From the porch one entered a big bedroom
with a fireplace. Back of that room was the
parlor; on either side of that room were two
bedrooms and over the left was Aunt Candis'
room. We all enjoyed sleeping in her room
because of the soft feather beds. The house
had a porch on the front and back, also a big
open upstairs that could be used when the
house was overcrowded with guests. My
grandfather's house was the meeting place for
everyone to have a good time and always feel
welcome. Submitted by Annie Lee D. Allen

THE ATKINSON FARM

Since 1 833 the Atkinsons have owned and
farmed this land in Johnston County. Thom-
as Atkinson bought 312 acres from Gaston
Lockhart on January 12, 1833. Thomas
Atkinson died in 1836 leaving 412 acres of
land to his wife, Patience, and 1 00 acres to his
son John. At the death of Patience Atkinson,
the 312 acres bought from Gaston Lockhart
was to be divided equally between his four
children: daughters, Sally Gaddon, Loverd,
son, John and son, Bennet.

The Alvin Atkinson home built about 1890.

In 1 866 John Atkinson deeded 400 acres of
land to son Thomas Atkinson.

On February 5, 1876, Thomas Atkinson
and wife, Elizabeth Godwin Atkinson deeded
1 50 acres to son, Alvin H. Debro Atkinson.
Alvin Debro Atkinson, born August 24, 1 863,
and Bethany Godwin, born January 30, 1 860,
were married September 22, 1887. They had
four children: Willie Eli, born September 23,
1888; Montie, born May 27, 1892; Harvey,
born July 17, 1895 and Ora, born March 20,
1900, died April 24, 1920. Montie Atkinson
married Fredrick Arthur Pike October 20,
1915; Margaret, born March 26, 1917.

On May 14, 1921 A.D. Atkinson and wife
Bethany deeded to Montie A. Pike 65.5 acres
also five sixths of an acre known as the dwell-
ing house lot of the said Montie Pike. N.R.
Pike was J. P. for deed. Edith Larraine Pike
born March 22, 1930. In 1934 Frederick,
Arthur and Montie bought 39 acres of A.D.
Atkinson estate. Bethany died June 9, 1928;
Alvin died January 17, 1934. In the 1920-30s
a Delco plant was bought to generate electrici-
ty for these homes. Frederick Arthur Pike
owned a Fordson Tractor in the 1930s,
farmed his land along with mules, horses and
did field and yard work for others for extra
money, also was a mule dealer. He and Mon-
tie had several milk cows and sold milk and
butter in Kenly. They also had chickens and
sold eggs and dressed chickens and hens were
sold. Montie and Edith made cakes for sale.
Montie made dresses for extra money. Fred-
erick, with help of neighbors built houses,
pack houses, mule stables, wash houses and
smokehouses for meat from hogs killed.
Crops raised were tobacco, corn, wheat, soy-
beans, hay and cotton.

On December 24, 1 944 Margaret married
Lyle Snyder. Frederick Arthur Pike died
April 16, 1946. Electricity came through the
country that year.

Edith Pike married William Lauhinghouse
of Wilson County on November 3, 1951. In
1952 he bought Margaret Pike Snyder's half
of Pike farm. William Laughinghouse, Jr.
born November 8, 1952; Larry Laughing-
house, born September 18, 1954; William
Laughinghouse, Sr. died July 5, 1955. Janu-
ary 4, 1959, Edith Laughinghouse married
William Bryan Richardson of Kenly; Elaine
Richardson, born February 15, 1960; Wil-
liam Bryan Richardson, Jr. born September
3, 1961. Betty Lou Richardson, born October
26, 1963. William Richardson Sr. died Janu-
ary 3, 1978; Montie Atkinson Pike had died
April 15, 1977. Edith Pike (Laughinghouse)
Richardson still owns this 104 acres.

Submitted by Edith Pike Laughinghouse
Richardson

THE ATKINSON FARM

Since 1 833 the Atkinsons have owned and
farmed this land in Johnston County. Thom-
as Atkinson bought 312 acres from Gaston
Lockhart January 12, 1833. Thomas Atkin-
son died in 1836, leaving 412 acres of land to
his wife, Patience, and 1 00 acres to son, John.
At the death of Patience Atkinson, the 312
acres bought from Gaston Lockhart was to be
divided equally between his four children,
daughters Sally Gaddon, Loverd, son John
and son Bennet.

In 1 866, John Atkinson deeded 400 acres of
land to son Thomas Atkinson.

124

Johnston

The house Willie Atkinson built in early 1913. He
and his wife lived here until their death. Since 1977
it has been lived in by Bonnie Atkinson Greene.

On February 5, 1876, Thomas Atkinson
and wife, Elizabeth Godwin Atkinson, deed-
ed 1 50 acres to son Alvin H. Debro Atkinson.
Alvin Debro Atkinson born August 24, 1 863,
and Bethany Godwin born January 30, 1 860,
were married September 23, 1 887. They had
four children, Willie Eli born September 23,
1888; Montie born May 27, 1892; Harvey
born July 17, 1895; and Ora born March 20,
1900. On March 28, 1919, Alvin Debro
Atkinson and wife, Bethany Atkinson deeded
45 acres of land to son Willie Eli Atkinson.
Alvin Debro Atkinson died January 1 7, 1 934.
Bethany Atkinson died June 9, 1928.

Willie Eli Atkinson and Nelia McDonald,
born in Richmond County June 12, 1885,
were married February 4, 1913. They had
three children. Clifford Merlin Atkinson born
December 1, 1913, was killed on New Geor-
gia Island in the South Pacific during World
War II on September 4, 1 943. Clifford Atkin-
son had one daughter, Lois Atkinson Zech-
man, born July 23, 1939. Uva Mae Atkinson
Jones Pittman was born May 20, 1915. Uva
Atkinson Jones had two children, Benny
Jones, born August 31, 1948 and Sybil Gail
Jones, born October 1 9, 1950. Uva Atkinson
Jones Pittman died April 25, 1984. Bonnie
Maxine Atkinson Greene was born February
15, 1917.

Willie Eli Atkinson died June 25, 1960.
Nelia Atkinson died January 15, 1958. They
farmed this land growing tobacco, corn, soy-
beans and cotton for a few years. During the
depression years, Willie Atkinson truck
farmed and sold his vegetables in Kenly for
extra income. Nelia Atkinson had milk cows
and sold milk by the pint and quart to custom-
ers in Kenly. She also made chocolate milk
and sold it in half pint bottles for five cents.
These were sold from coolers in service sta-
tions.

In 1935, Margaret Pike and Bonnie Atkin-
son carried a petition, from door to door, for
the neighbors to sign, so the R.E.A. would
extend electricity into the country around the
Glendale Community.

At the death of Willie Atkinson he willed
these 45 acres of land to daughters, Uva
Atkinson Jones and Bonnie Atkinson Greene.
The deed is still in Willie Atkinson's name.
Benny Jones and Sybil Jones Trent are joint
owners with Bonnie Atkinson Greene.

Submitted by Bonnie A. Greene

THE ADOLPHUS ATKINSON
FARM

This homeplace was originally "The Need-
ham Whitley Place," which Adolphus D.
Atkinson remodeled and added rooms in the
year 1 9 1 6. On the right back side of the house
are three large rooms, a large back porch and
a butlers pantry. Adolphus D. Atkinson and
his wife, Mary Jane Barham Atkinson (Mol-
lie), reared their fourteen children here.

Home of Mary Jane Barham (Mollie) Atkinson and
Adolphus D. Atkinson. Lois Atkinson Andrews
reared here.

Several changes occurred during the time
that Adolphus owned the farm. They no lon-
ger timbered for its by-products, and not any
flax nor indigo were grown. Also, sheep for
meat as well as wool by products, was no lon-
ger raised.

Stock laws came into being and were
enforced so each class of animal had a large
fenced pasture with a running branch through
each pasture.

Rural Electrification Administration
(REA) came through in the fall of 1938 with
electricity for the farm.

Adolphus D. Atkinson divided "The Need-
ham Whitley Place" into four farms and gave
four daughters a farm: Claudia Atkinson, Zil-
phia Atkinson Brantley, and Mavis Atkinson
Thorne. Zilphia Atkinson Brantley has the
farm with the homesite on it.

Submitted bv Lois May Atkinson Andrews

THE BAGLEY FARM

The Bagley Farm was first started in 1816
when Theophilus Bagley bought 1 50 acres of
land from William Hinnant. During his life-
time he acquired a considerable amount of
land. Later he transferred some of this land to
his several children.

Thomas Bagley, son of Theophilus Bagley,
died in 1 85 1 at a young age, leaving a wife and
four children who were raised by their grand-
father. His wife, Trecinda Pike Bagley, remar-
ried. In 1856 the land was divided among the
children: Sarah, Leroy, Demetrius and
Thomas.

Some of the children sold their land, but
Demetrius H. Bagley kept his and acquired a
great deal more during his lifetime, most of
which was in Beulah Township.

Demetrius Bagley gave his sons, Oscar,
Thomas and Fletcher several hundred acres
of land each.

Thomas W. Bagley left his land to his chil-
dren: Grace and Mamie sold their share of the
land to their brother, Worth Bagley, and Vir-
ginia and Margaret sold their shares to their
brother, Demetrius H. Bagley.

Demetrius H. Bagley (D.H.) his grandfa-
ther's namesake, now owns his father's home-
place. He also purchased his uncle Oscar Bag-
ley's land, as well as several other parcels of
land, approximately 550 acres, which were
formerly owned by his grandfather.

His brother, Worth Bagley (deceased) has a
small adjoining farm which was also his
grandfather's land.

In 1870 Demetrius Bagley and his mother
Trecinda Pike Bagley Hinnant deeded a piece
of land for the Holly Springs Church to be
built on. It celebrated its 1 00th birthday a few
years ago.

The Bagley farm is proud of the fact that
there is a plot of land which is said to have
been an Indian burial ground.

There is also a plot of land set aside by
Demetrius Bagley for a burial ground for
blacks. This is still being used today.

Submitted by Myrtle N. and D.H. Bagley

THE BAGLEY FARM

We have 64 acres in our farm and it isn't
the "homeplace" home. It's a part of the same
farm, but my late husband's brother, D.H.

The Bagley farm.

Johnston

Bagley, owns the old homeplace part of the
farm.

Worth Bagley (my deceased husband) built
our house and we moved into it December 24,
1948. There was a three room house on this
same spot and we lived in it down the road a
bit and now use it for a tenant house.

Worth's grandfather, Demetrius Bagley
first owned the land and gave it to Worth's
father, William Thomas Bagley. After his
death his wife, Minnie Wellons Bagley, rented
out the land in order to raise the children who
were minors at the time, except one, Grace.
She was married to Robert Langley of Tar-
boro and lived in New York at that time. They
are now in Washington, D.C.

Worth's grandfather, Demetrius Bagley,
the brother of Lee Roy Bagley, who was a Pro-
fessor at Wake Forest College, was the first
owner to what is known as the Bagley land in
Beulah township. There are papers that speak
of it being Boyette's land before the Bagleys
owned it, but we have never been able to find
out what Boyette owned it.

Submitted by Mrs. Worth Bagley

THE BAILEY FARM

The Baileys have been landowners and/or
farmers in Johnston and Harnett Counties for
the last 119 years. On the 27th of March,
1868, Alfred Lemuel Bailey bought 614.5
acres of land from James B. Stewart. The land
lay both in Harnett County and Johnston
County, lying on either side of the county
lines divided by the run of Mingo. All the land
located in Harnett County is still farmed by
descendants of Alfred Lemuel Bailey, but
none are named Bailey.

On the 5th of December, 1 883, Alfred Lem-
uel Bailey deeded 1 79 acres of land to Willis
T. Bailey, his eldest son, who farmed the land
until his death. The primary crops consisted
of tobacco, cotton and corn.

Willis T. Bailey and family, circa 1900. Luther
Waylon Bailey is the oldest child in this photo.

On the 26th of October, 1 926, Willis T. Bai-
ley deeded 27 acres of land to Luther Waylon
Bailey, his oldest son, who began clearing the
land and farming it. Additional lands consist-
ing of 137 acres of land were acquired by
Luther Waylon Bailey from his brothers and
sisters.

Luther Waylon Bailey farmed the land
until hisdeath in 1973. Luther Waylon Bailey
had two sons, Glenard W. and Donald R. Bai-
ley. Glenard returned from World War II in
1 946 and farmed the land until 1 954 when he
bought 1200 acres of land in Cumberland

County. Glenard still resides in Cumberland
County, but continues to have strong ties with
the family farm in Johnston County. Donald
returned from the army in 1948 and helped
farm the land until he entered and graduated
from the University of North Carolina in
1954. He pursued a career in the federal gov-
ernment and retired in 1980. Donald resided
in Cumberland County, but also had close tier:
to the family farm. Donald bought the Bailey
homeplace and moved there in July 1988.
This century farm will be owned by the Bai-
leys well into the 2 1 st Century.

Submitted by Donald R. Bailey

THE BOYETTE FARM

The earliest known Boyettes living in the
formerly much larger Johnston County were
the Joseph and Sallie Langley Boyette family
who lived in the Buckhorn area of what is now
Wilson County between the late 1 700s and
1841.

One of their sons, George, was given a land
grant of 400 acres in the Glendale area of the
present Johnston County in 1800 for which
he paid the state "fifty shillings for each hun-
dred acres." This land was inherited by his
son, Larkin George in 1852. The land that is
now the century farm, about 160 acres, was
inherited by George Henry Boyette in 1885
by David Larkin Boyette in 1928 and by Ray
Boyette in 1 967. These were all father to son
transactions. Except for a few acres sold to a
neighbor by George Henry, all of the original
land grant acres are still owned by various
descendants of the original George.

During all these years this farm has pro-
duced a variety of crops — cotton, corn and
tobacco as well as small grains, vegetables and
cattle. The 1850 census shows that Larkin
George had eight slaves.

In 1981 the one-room slave house which
was later used as a farm schoolhouse was
restored and placed on the National Register
of Historic Places, not only for its age but that
it had the only original stick and mud chim-
ney left in the state.

Two major home restorations have been
made on the farm by descendants, the Larkin
George Boyette family home built about 1 880
and the David Larkin Boyette home built in
1 920, which is now owned by Don and Chris
Boyette, son and daughter-in-law of Ray Boy-
ette.

The Boyette family has had great pride in
its rural heritage, has been active in church,
community, educational and governmental
affairs hoping to preserve for its children the
good things in life that it has enjoyed in the
past. Submitted by Ray A. Boyette

THE BRIDGERS FARM

Little is known about the history of this
farm. It is located on N. C. Highway 1010 less
than one mile from the Johnston-Wake Coun-
ty line in the Cleveland Township (formerly
called Pleasant Grove).

The farmhouse sits on land now owned by
a Johnson, first name unknown. Approxi-
mately 50 acres is presently owned by Alfred
Tennyson Taylor, Jr. who is the great grand-
son of Ransom Bridgers, the original owner.

An 1 870 census listed the Bridgers (spelled
Bridges in the census) family. The Bridges
were listed as follows: Cane Bridges (47 years
old) and wife, Isbell (36 years old), with chil-
dren: Clary (19 years old), Stanly (15 years
old), Rosana ( 1 2 years old), Caroline ( 1 years
old), Eliza (8 years old), Nathan (6 years old),
Henry (4 years old), and Andrew (2 years old);
Julious Bridges (27 years old) and wife, Emo-
line (22 years old), with children Henry (4
years old); and Ransom Bridges (47 years old)
and wife, Adline (4 1 years old), with children
George (17 years old), Betty (15 years old),
Ransom (12 years old), Thomas (10 years
old), Fanney (8 years old), Troy (6 years old),
Mary (4 years old), and Amy/Anny (2 years
old).

The only other mention of the Bridgers'
Farm is an interview with Caroline Richard-
son, a slave on the Bridgers' place, that
appears in "The American Slave: A Compos-
ite Autobiography."

Submitted by Alfred T. Taylor. Jr.

THE BRITT FARM

This farm dates back to 1 845. John Daniel
Howell was born 1809 and during his early
years he accumulated land in Wayne and
Johnston Counties.

An aerial view of the Brit t farm. Princeton. N.C.

In 1845 he sold his land in Wayne County
and bought additional land in Johnston
County from Levi Holloway to add to his
Johnston County land. He reared his 1 1 chil-
dren on his land (about 300 acres) and at his
death in 1881 his heirs inherited equal parcels
of his land.

Margaret H. Britt's father inherited and
bought his sister's portions, a total of 81
acres. He had two heirs by his first wife and
seven by Margaret's mother. Margaret's
father died in 1928 and her mother died in
1960.

In 1 960 Margaret and her four brothers and
two sisters inherited the entire farm except
the portion for their half brother, who inherit-
ed the two parts designated for him and his
sister.

Margaret's sister, Mary, kept her portion
and Margaret and her family bought her
brother's and other sister's part. Since 1960
Margaret's family has owned this part of the
original John Daniel Howell farm that has
been in their family since 1845. Margaret's
sons, along with the other heirs, intend to
keep the farm in the family.

Submitted by Margaret 11. Britt

126

Johnston

The Denning farm.

and lives in Coats. The grandsons also help on
the farm.

At one time the farm probably produced
rice as an old ricer hollowed out log has been
passed on to a granddaughter of Tempie Dix-
on Denning. Tobacco was a major crop,
beginning with wood fired barns, then to ker-
osene fired and now bulk barn farming. Soy-
beans, potatoes, tobacco and corn are now
being farmed. A pond referred to as "Round
Pond" as the land marker in the 1913 deed
has been used for irrigation of plant beds of
tobacco.

Submitted by Mr. and Mrs. Lamas Denning

THE ELMHURST FARM

Three and one-half miles from Smithfield
on Road 1010 in the heart of Johnston Coun-
ty lies the century farm and Avera homestead
known as Elmhurst Farm. Elmhurst contains
approximately 1 50 acres of land and is
bounded on the south by Middle Creek.

IHI II

Behind the house were buildings housing
the kitchen and washroom. A meat house still
stands. As time passed and the need grew, a
dining room, kitchen, bedrooms and porches
were added. The porches have been a play-
ground for the many children growing up on
Elmhurst and now for the grandchildren.

Behind the house in the so-called orchard is
a graveyard surrounded by an iron picket
fence with three large marble tombstones.
They are the graves of:

(father) John Washington Avera — 1814-
1894

(mother) Ann Mariah Avera — 1 8 1 7- 1 896
(son) John William Avera — 1852-1884
John Washington Avera had no heirs and
left this farm along with others to William
David Avera, his nephew, and the father of
Samuel Thomas (Tom) Avera, the present
owner.

Tom and his ten older brothers and sisters
grew up on Elmhurst. Tom and his wife, Eve-
lyn raised their five children in the home and
still reside there and manage the farm.

On June 20, 1987 a wedding reception was
held at the homeplace for Tom and Evelyn's
daughter. Sue and John Booker, II. In Sep-
tember, 1987 the first family reunion in 28
years was held there. Forty-six of Tom's
brothers, sisters, their children, wives, hus-
bands and grandchildren attended the festive
family gathering. A videotape was made by
Tom, Jr. and M.C.ed by his brother-in-law,
Andy Gemmell. The tape shows a tour of the
home, grounds and graveyard and has rare wit
and is treasured by all. Submitted by Tom Avera

THE BROWN FARM

The original tract of 230 acres was pur-
chased from Lazarus Pearson January 22,
1 85 1 by Jesse Brown. The farm has been oper-
ated as a family farm raising tobacco, cotton,
corn, wheat, vegetable garden and some live-
stock. Jesse also operated a blacksmith shop
which was a place the neighbors gathered to
exchange gossip and ideas. He was a member
of the lower house of the General Assembly
from Johnston County at the time of his death
May 2, 1883. The farm and his possessions
were divided among his 1 1 children and wife
according to his will.

Waylon H. Brown and family taken in 1905.

Waylon H. Brown, the last son of Jesse
Brown, who was born December 31, 1875,
purchased the land from the other heirs. The
farm continued to be operated as a family
farm. Waylon Brown was the father of six
sons and three daughters. His interests were
varied — farming, being justice of the peace,
teaching singing schools in his neighborhood
and politicking. At his death July 19, 1943,
the farm was again divided among his chil-
dren.

This part of the original tract is recorded
under the name of J. Herman Brown (heir)
and continues to be farmed as a family farm.

Submitted by Jesse Herman Brown

THE DENNING FARM

Lamas Floyd and Janie Adams Denning
live on Rt. 1 , Benson on a farm located on the
line of Johnston and Harnett Counties. Deeds
show that John and Tempie Dixon purchased
the land in the 1840s and then deeded the
property to Ben Dixon and heirs on August
30, 1881, which was registered in Book 4,
pages 415-416 on March 9, 1886. The land
then passed from Ben and Nancy Coats Dix-
on to Tempie Ann Dixon Denningon January
29, 1913 for 123 acres in consideration of
$10. It was filed in Book 215, page 245 on
March 6 1926.

An old well, filled in before 1 950, marks the
site of a "homeplace" and a log home was also
on the property. A more recent home in the
style of the kitchen separate from the main
house was built of hewn heart of pine boards
and assembled with pegs. Its foundation was
of pine block and the chimneys were built of
rock and mortar. The house is still occupied
by a retired farm worker.

Lamas and Janie Denning's two children
grew up on the farm. Gary, now farming the
land, has a son named Justin; and Rhonda
Denning Stephenson has a son named Kurt

Avera family reunion in September, 1987.

The home which is thought to be over 100
years old, originally consisted of two rooms
upstairs and two rooms downstairs connected
by a central hall and a front porch. Each room
has a fireplace, wide heart pine floorboards
and wainscoating. Paint was removed from
the woodwork in an upstairs bedroom and a
downstairs mantle to reveal the rich pretty
pine wood. Hand hewn nails and pegs were
found used when an upstairs ceiling had to be
replaced. On each side of the front porch are
rope swings with board seats that have hung
there 80 years. Ropes have been replaced, but
the seats are the original boards. Also, the long
benches on each side of the porch date way
back.

THE GEORGE FARM

On July 14, 1871 Jeremiah L. George pur-
chased a 404 acre tract of land lying on the
south side of Stone Creek in Bentonville and
Meadow Townships in Johnston County
from S.W. and Elizabeth Blackmon. About
one year later, on December 1 8, 1 872, he pur-
chased 90 acres of land from Tyrus Thornton
which lay adjacent to the former tract. Again,
in 1875 Jeremiah George bought 30 acres of
land from Julias A. and Lottie Lee on the west
side of the original 404 acre tract south of
Stone Creek. Later, about 1890, he also pur-
chased 492 acres located adjacent to and on
the north side of Stone Creek from his previ-
ous land purchases. Jeremiah George used

127

The Preston T. George homeplace, circa 1925.

these lands for general farming and the pro-
duction of naval stores.

Jeremiah L. George died in 1 896 and one of
his two heirs, Preston T. George, received all
of the above described lands. In the 1930s
Preston George purchased 45 acres from
Arthur A. Williams located in Bentonville
Township. This new land and his original
lands were used for general farming, live-
stock, lumber and naval stores production.
Preston George also owned a cotton gin and a
sawmill located on these lands during the ear-
ly 1900s.

In 1948 the late Preston T. George's estate
was divided among seven heirs. M. Tryon
George, one of the heirs, inherited 109 acres
of which 100 acres was a part of the original
404 acres conveyed to Jeremiah L. George by
S.W. and Elizabeth Blackmon in 1871. In
1962 M. Tryon George inherited 54 acres
from the division of the Annie W. George
dower tract and the Jerry L. George division.
Two additional tracts totaling 64 acres were
purchased from Virginia George Johnson in
1969. These 227 acres are currently being
used by M. Tryon George and his son, Samuel
L. George, as partners, for the production of
fruits, vegetables, timber and general farm-
ing. Our plan is to continue the present use of
this land into the next century.

Submitted by Tryon George

THE GODWIN FARM

The beginning crops were cotton, corn and
peas. To get seed for the new cotton crop, each
person picked out their shoe full of seed, both

Johnston

children and adults. The family made shoes
from deer hides and cloth from cotton pro-
duced on the farm. The crops were grown on
lowland without any fertilizer.

The original home built in the 1830s was
for Jordan Godwin. The J.J. Godwin (Rich-
ard) old house which was built in 1 899 is still
being used as a home. The 1907 house was
built for Moose Godwin, and is now used for
storage.

During the Civil War the family kept a
lookout from the upstairs porch for Yankees.
They would hide the horses and mules in the
woods and also bury their meat so the Yan-
kees could not find it. An old slave lady told
that the Yankees tore down the local church
and used materials to build a bridge over the
little river. After the war, the people rebuilt
the church (Old Beulah) which exists and is
used today.

The original owner, James Godwin, was
born in 1775. Jordan Godwin was born on
April 26, 1 806. Ransom Godwin was born in
1836. Jordan (J.J. or Richard) Godwin was
born in 1861. The present owner is William
Paul Godwin, born August 1 5, 19 1 1 .

Jordan's homeplace was built in 1 830. The
house consisted of two rooms with two fire-
places downstairs, two rooms with two fire-
places upstairs and one room with one fire-
place out back. The family cooked in the
fireplace. The home had a porch on the front
and on the front of the second story. Vandals
destroyed the homeplace in December 1986
by fire. Submitted by William Paul Godwin

THE HATCHER FARM

The Hatchers came to North Carolina from
Virginia and were Scotch Irish. Benjamine
Hatcher married February 28, 1789. He
bought or was given land in 1791 and by 1812,
he owned 750 acres. It was located between
Little River and Great Buffalo Swamp in
Johnston County. He had four children. The
two sons were Austin and Benjamine, Jr.

Jordan Godwin 's homeplace. built in the 1830s.

The old Charlie Hatcher homeplace, built circa
1885.

On June 24, 1813 Benjamine, Jr. married
Polly Watkins. They had four children. The
two sons were Robert and John.

In 1 824 Robert acquired 1 50 acres from his
father. He later owned around 300 acres, also
from Little River to Great Buffalo Swamp.

Benjamine Jr's. old log house was about 2 A
of a mile east of Highway 39 near Buffalo
Creek as it is called now.

Benjamine Sr. divided his land up; until
1 836 he had only 1 7 1 acres left.

He made a will August 20, 1840 and died
soon afterwards.

Robert the son of Benjamine, Jr., was born
March 25, 1816. He married Piety Bailey
October 17, 1837. They had seven children.
In 1844 Robert received 75 acres from his
father, Benjamine, Jr. Later he owned
between 500 and 600 acres. This was still in
about the same area as his parents and grand-
father. The children all settled around in the
area. Hardie farmed and had a sawmill;
Hiram and Charlie just farmed and raised
most everything they ate and always had extra
to sell to buy things needed.

Robert went to the house to hive some bees
and got stung and died in a few days.

Charlie married Charlotte Brown Novem-
ber 7, 1 837. They had seven children. One son
died young. One got killed from a runaway
mule at 22. One was an undertaker in Dunn.
The two other boys farmed along with their
father.

Eddie married in 1910 and had one daugh-
ter, Hazel. Eddie and Robert received about
95 acres each. Both later bought more land,
but not adjoining the family land.

Eddie received the homeplace which is still
owned and loved by his daughter Hazel Cross.
He once had three tenants plus what he tend-
ed. In the 50s, his son-in-law, Henry Cross,
bought the first tractor and as more machine-
ry was used there was no need for mules. Hen-
ry later tended about 200 acres by himself and
raised registered Berkshire hogs.

Now since he is deceased the land is rented
out, but it is hoped that there will continue to
be someone to rent it to.

The land is very dear to the family. There is
one son and one granddaughter. Hazel and
Henry had one son, Wayne. Wayne married
Catharine Strickland, and they have a daugh-
ter, Catharine Paige Cross.

Submitted by Hazel Hatcher Cross

THE HINNANT FARM

Hardy Hinnant, was the owner of 1650
acres of land bordered by Contenta Creek and
Buckhorn Reservoir. At the time Hardy Hin-
nant was owner, the land was in Johnston
County, the Buckhorn Community. At this
time it is a part of Wilson County, formed
from a part of Johnston, Wayne, Nash and
Edgecombe Counties. This land was a portion
of a land grant from England, registered in
Johnston County Book 2, page 1 . Hardy Hin-
nant was born in 1 789 and died in 1 850. His
son, William Hinnant, was born November
25, 1831, and died 1912. Thomas B. Hinnant,
son of William Hinnant, was born 1870 and
died in 1932. He was the father of Blenn Hin-
nant who was born October 22, 1 904.

During Hardy Hinnant's lifetime the main
income was from turpentine, corn, fruit and
vegetables. During William Hinnant's life-
time his main source of income was corn, cot-
ton, wheat, turpentine and vegetables for
home use. During the lifetime of Thomas B.
Hinnant the home house burned in 1 925 and
was rebuilt in 1926. This house burned in
1931 and was rebuilt in 1931 on the same
land.

Thomas B. Hinnant died in the year 1932.
This land was left to his wife, mother of Blenn
Hinnant, who died in 1970. During her life-
time the source of income was from tobacco,
cotton, corn and fruit and vegetables. At the

128

Johnston

L to R: Lucy Hinnant; her father, William Hinnant; Alice R. Hinnant, who is holding up Blenn Hinnanl
"child"; and Thomas B. Hinnant "husband and father, " 1905.

death of Alice R. Hinnant, this land went to
her son, Blenn Hinnant. The main source of
income has been tobacco, corn and soybeans.

During the lifetime of Thomas B. Hinnant,
a farm shop was built to repair the farm equip-
ment and tools used on the farm and to
accommodate the neighbors, which is now in
use as a neighborhood shop and has become a
commercial shop.

Blenn Hinnant died on November 19,
1987, and the farm passed to his son Ralph
Harold Hinnant. He lives in Kenly, N.C.

Submitted by Blenn Hinnant;
Revised by Harold Hinnant

THE JEFFREYS FARM

The first records of a deed to the Jeffreys
land was recorded the 13th day of January,
1870. The deed states that James and Julia
Ann Jeffreys bought land from the owners of
land adjoining his land which he had inherit-
ed from his father, Robert J. Jeffreys. The
land cost $480 for 145 acres.

The kitchen was a separate building from
the main house. It was told from generation to
generation how hams, other foods, and valu-
ables were hid between the walls of the bed-
rooms in the "big house" to keep the Yankee
soldiers from taking them during the Civil
War. One son, Carmody, was killed during
the war.

In 1885 Jeffreys borrowed $100. The
papers state that he mortgaged all "my crop,
corn and cotton made on said land, 3 head of
mules, named Charlie, Frank, Tom and one
mare named Hussey and a 2-horse wagon and
equipment. " He paid the mortgage off and
did not lose his crops and horses.

On the 2 1 st day of December 1 89 1 James
Jeffreys deeded this land to his two sons J.C.
and N.E. Jeffreys. The deed states "that
James Jeffreys in consideration of the natural
love and affection I have for my two sons, that
the sum of one dollar each be paid to me by
J.C. and N.E. Jeffreys."

N.E. Jeffreys had three children. He gave
each some land. In 1 946 Verona Jeffreys Hor-
ton, oldest of children, deeded her land to
Rebecca Horton Hinton, daughter. There are
no buildings on the land. On the land, which
is rented, tobacco, corn and beans are grown.
There is also a wooded area with pines the

dominate trees.

Submitted by Rebecca Horton Hinton

THE JOHNSON FARM

The first owner was Solomon Stephenson,
who acquired it by a land grant in the 1 760s.
His grandson, George Stephenson, sold it to
my maternal grandfather, Edward Robert
Johnson in 1877 where he lived until his
death in 1 905. E.R. Johnson was a veteran of
the Civil War, serving in the 53rd N.C. Regi-
ment, Company "C," and was wounded in
March 1865 at Petersburg, Virginia.

The farm was left to my maternal grand-
mother, Elizabeth Harrison Johnson, who
died 19th of April, 1921. She willed the land
to my mother's two sisters and one brother,
namely: Vilas D. Johnson, Rena Johnson
Myatt and Mina Johnson Higgins. Later,
Mina Johnson Higgins acquired all of this
property. At her death on 1 1th August, 1964
it was willed to six of her nieces. This land was
deeded to me in 1977 from my three sisters
and three Myatt cousins.

This farm consists of 348 acres, about 200
of which are in woodlands. It is located in an
historic part of Johnston County known as
the Polenta Community. It is located on
County Road 1514, one mile from Cleveland
School, two miles from Interstate 40 and
about 18 miles from Raleigh. The land bor-
ders on Middle Creek.

Submitted by George A. McLemore, Jr., M.D.

THE JOHNSON FARM

Home to some people is just a word, but to
my family it has a much deeper meaning of
permanence and roots. Living on a farm has
given us a sense of dwelling close to God and
nature and of being a part of the universe.

This farm has belonged to my family for
more than 120 years. My great grandfather,
Sidney Adams, gave it to my grandmother,
Betty Eliza Adams as a homestead when she
married Edmond W. Johnson. The house that
they built to live in was mortised and draw-
pinned. Not a single nail was used in its con-
struction. It was made of long leaf pine which
was then called pure light wood.

My father, Charles Gattis Johnson, their
only child, brought his bride to this same
house in 1 903 as was the custom in those days.

^"" ,r "»' , iiiiii 1<l!ltl!ii| ;|, <!« .11

The original Johnson homestead, built in the late
1800s, was constructed with mortise and drawpin
joints.

About 1915, he renovated the house, dou-
bling its size and adding a carbide lighting sys-
tem which we used for many years. In the days
before electricity, my sisters and I had the
dirty job of cleaning the carbide out of the
plant. How we hated that! But I still remem-
ber the warm glow from the chandeliers
whose globes were decorated with yellow ros-
es. Unfortunately, the house burned in 1939,
and this bit of our heritage was lost.

My father built a new house and farmed as
long as his health permitted, growing the
crops suited to this area and livestock. I have
heard that in the late 1800s Sidney Adams
also ran a turpentine still for additional
income. He tapped long leaf pines, distilled
turpentine from the sap, and hauled it to ship-
ping points in homemade wooden casks.

After World War II and my father's death,
my husband and I lived with my mother for a
time before building our own place on the
farm to raise chickens and children. I think
my forefathers would be proud of the four
sons we produced.

I have checked deeds in the county court-
house but cannot find any data on how my
great grandfather came by this land. The farm
originally was large enough to be called an
estate as it consisted of many acres. Down
through the years it has been divided among
children, highways have come through and
portions have been sold, so the remaining
land in our possession is much smaller than
the original homestead.

Submitted by Cleo Johnson Williams

THE JOHNSON-BAREFOOT FARM

In the year 1856 Henry M. Johnson built a
large frame house on property that he owned
in southern Johnston County between what is
now Highways 50 and 701 near Mill Creek. In
building his house, he used bricks for the
foundation and chimneys that were kilned on
the same plantation. The house was sur-
rounded by barns, a separate kitchen, a
smokehouse, orchards, a winery, a brick kiln
and a cotton gin. He was a progressive farmer
with large land holdings who produced cot-
ton, corn, rice, grains and tobacco. He served
one term in the North Carolina legislature
and was a leader in his local community. On
this plantation, he married four wives and
reared his family of 1 1 children by his wives,
Nancy Ann and Edith Ann. He died in 1921.

The youngest of Henry's sons was George
Rufus Johnson, who came into possession of
the homeplace as part of his inheritance. He

129

Johnston

married Sophronia Morgan and they had six
children, two of whom died in childhood.
They remodeled the original house to make it
more liveable. George, too, was a progressive
farmer being one of the first farmers in the
area to grow sweet potatoes for the market. He
built a potato curing house on the farm which
still stands. Other crops produced on the farm
were livestock, tobacco, cotton, corn, soy-
beans and grain. He farmed with mule-drawn
equipment and used wood-fired tobacco
barns. He provided his four children the
opportunity to obtain a college education.

Mr. and Mrs. George Rufus Johnson in front of Hen-
ry M. Johnson 's homeplace after they remodeled it.

In 1946 George's youngest daughter, Mil-
dred, married Oliver Ayden Barefoot. They
came to live with George and farmed his acre-
age until he died in 1952. At this time, Mil-
dred inherited the homeplace and later, with
her husband, purchased the shares of her
brother and sisters, all of whom married and
moved away. The Barefoots remodeled the
house again, modernized the farm operation
and continued to farm the acreage. Mrs. Bare-
foot also taught in the Johnston County
School System. They have one daughter,
Sophia Barefoot Patterson, who lives out of
state. Mrs. Barefoot continues to live on and
supervise the operation of the farm, although
she is retired. Mr. Barefoot died December 6,
1 988, after a prolonged illness. The future of
the farm is uncertain.

Submitted by Mrs. Ayden Barefoot

THE LEE FARM

Located on State Road 1 136 in Meadow
Township is the farm of William Dayton Lee
which records in the Johnston County court-
house show was heired from his father, John
Claudius. In 1919 three commissioners divid-
ed the 288 acre farm heired from his father,
John Jr., whose wife was Dorothy Smith,
daughter of Aaron Smith, into six parts for
each of the six children. The sons bought the

The Lee homeplace in Newton Grove, N.C.

sisters' shares. These farms are still owned by
the sons' children.

John Claudius, born in 1833, farmed and
ran a store at Crossroads Corner. In 1861
according to records, he enlisted in the Civil
War and was commissioned a second lieuten-
ant in Company I, 62nd Regiment. Later he
resigned as officer, then joined the Cavalry
until October 1 864. Two brothers also served,
Mordecia, killed in battle, and Walter wound-
ed in battle.

At age 60, John Claudius who had never
married brought his bride of 20, Minnie Fran-
ces, daughter of William Spencer and Nancy
Wood Eldridge, to his farm. Three sons and
four daughters were born to this union: Alva
(died as a result of burns), Claudie, Mordecia,
Creighton, Minnie, Myrtle, and Dayton. The
youngest three are living. Dayton can relate
some of the war stories.

John Claudius, who died at 84 in 1917, is
buried in the family cemetery beyond the
house. In 1 936 Minnie Frances died at 65.

In 1931 Dayton married the pretty brunette
next door, Varina, daughter of Mang and
Rena Wood. Three daughters, teachers in the
North Carolina schools, are Agnes Lee Far-
thing, Jo Ann Lee Howard and Barbara Ann
Lee Bass. Since Varina's death in 1971, Day-
ton has maintained the home. He rents the
farm to a local farmer, since he is no longer
able to farm it himself.

The front of the family home built about
1 9 1 9 by neighbors and local carpenters is the
original. The house built by John Claudius
burned along with all its contents when the
widowed mother and children were working
in the distant fields.

Submitted by Doris Lee Jones

THE MATTHEWS FARM

November 5,1816 Patrick Dixon and John
Dixon purchased 375 acres of land from
Demsey Allen. This land is in Elevation and
West Banner Townships of Johnston County
about two and one half miles north of Benson.
North Carolina Highway 50 runs through the
tract as well as State Road 1 1 68 which divides
the land, with Elevation Township on the
north side and West Banner on the south.

Benjamin Matthews, grandson of Patrick Dixon,
and wife, Sarah Hobgood Matthews

In the early 1800s the Dixons operated a
gristmill. Pleasant Hill Church and Pleasant
Hill School were established on the Dixon
property, the first being constructed of logs.
The log church later burned. August 18, 1874,
Nancy Dixon gave the land where the present
church stands. Vison Ivey, Daniel Byrd, and
Benjamin Matthews were the trustees.

In 1882 Patrick Dixon, Haywood Dixon
and Lucinda Dixon leased to the public
schools Johnston County two acres of land for
the Pleasant Hill school after the log school
was abandoned. This school ceased to operate
in 1930.

Abram Dixon, son of Patrick Dixon, leased
to the Common School Elevation District the
land for the Elevation school.

November 14, 1 876 Patrick Dixon gave his
grandson, Benja min Matthews, 110 acres
south of State Road 1 168 on Highway 50,
West Banner Township. This tract came
down through Benjamin's son, Lester Orus
Matthews to his son, the present owner,
Yoakum Austin Matthews.

Through the years this land has been used
to grow grain and cotton and to raise cows and
hogs. Submitted by Yoakum Austin Matthews

THE MCLAMB FARM

The McLamb farm is located in southeast
Johnston County approximately six miles
from Benson on Highway 242. This 60 acre
trust is part of a large farm originally owned
by William McLamb. According to records,
this 60 acre farm has been in the McLamb
family for more than 140 years and has been
passed through four generations.

The Samuel McLamb house, built circa 1874.

The 300 acre farm was given to Nathan
McLamb by his father, William, in the early
1 870s. A house was constructed on the site in
1 874 and later additional rooms were added.
Nathan, his wife and six sons lived on the
farm. In the 1 900s the tract of land was divid-
ed equally among five of the sons. One of the
sons chose money for an education in lieu of
land. The youngest son, Eldridge, was deeded
this farm and home in 1 909 by his father.

Much of the house built by Nathan
McLamb in 1 874 is still used. The kitchen and
dining rooms were constructed separately
from the house and are not used. This house
has retained many of the original features.
One of the unique features is the 50 foot front
porch with a four foot overhang. The over-
hang provided shelter for storing wood. A well
was located near the end of the porch. The
original posts are still supporting the porch
and banister. The house and porch are floored
with one inch tongue and grooved boards.
Ceilings in the house are made of twelve inch
boards. In addition to large rooms with fire-
places, the house contained sleeping rooms.
These small rooms would accommodate a
bed and dresser and were located adjacent to
a large room.

130

Johnston

One of the original buildings, the crib, is
still used. The crib is a log structure with a
shelter. The McLamb Family cemetery is
located at the back of the farm.

In 1 964 Eldridge McLamb deeded the farm
to his son, Samuel Baggett McLamb, the pres-
ent owner. Although the family does not
reside on the farm, efforts are made to pre-
serve the original structure and land.

Submitted by Samuel B. McLamb

THE NARRON FARM

Troy Narron purchased about 1 20 acres of
land in N. O'Neal Township, Johnston Coun-
ty, near Antioch Baptist Church, March 20,
1872, from Wiatt and Maria Earp. He
remained a bachelor while clearing the land
and married Rachel Parker from Johnston
County in 1 899. They had five children; Goli-
us, Tom, Bonnie, Troy and Sam. After his
death in 1924, his wife and children farmed
this land and other tracts he later bought.

The home of Sam Narron built in 1940-41.

Sam, the youngest and only surviving child,
is 75 and present ownerof 82 acres of this land
which he has farmed and managed since
1940.

He married Susie Finney from Franklin
County, Virginia, in 1 938, and they built their
home and reared their family on this same
farm. Their two children, Rebecca and Rich-
ard, helped with the farm work and livestock
produced on this farm through their school
years and both are graduates of East Carolina
University.

Sam had a 31 year professional baseball
career beginning in 1 934 in the St. Louis Car-
dinal organization as a player, and as a coach
with the Brooklyn Dodgers 1 949-50, and as a
coach with the Pittsburgh Pirates 1951-64.
He proudly states that he is the first Johnston
County native on World Series Teams. Those
teams and years are: St. Louis Cardinals —
1942 and 1943; Brooklyn Dodgers — 1949;
and the Pittsburgh Pirates — 1 960. All series
were played against the New York Yankees.
The 1 942 Cardinals and the 1 960 Pirates were
winners.

Even though the baseball career was a
dream come true, Sam never lost his love for
the land and especially the farm. He was
always eager to return to it and carry on the
farm business shared by his wife and children.
He hopes this and other land he and his family
own will continue to be productive family
farmland and the back-to-the-land spirit and
love will continue to live in his family in this
and future generations.

His present family consists of one son,
Samuel Richard Narron, and wife, Robin
Cauthorne Narron, co-owner of Sportman's

World Sporting Goods stores in Goldsboro,
Kinston and Smithfield; grandson, Samuel
Franklin Narron; granddaughter, Virginia
Winston Narron; one daughter, Rebecca Sue
Narron Murphy and husband, Lt. Col. John
P. Murphy, U.S.A.F., retired; grandson, John
Lowell Murphy and granddaughter, Susan
Alice Murphy.

Submitted by Sam and Susie Narron

THE OGBURN FARM

Dating back to 1856, this parcel of land has
been in the family of R. Glenn (deceased) and
Lela R. Ogburn.

Four generations have lived in the Ogburn home.

J.T. Leach sold two parcels of land to
Barney P. King, great grandparent of R.
Glenn Ogburn. The first parcel, consisting of
250 acres was purchased February 21, 1856,
and the second parcel of 80 acres was
acquired on May I, 1876.

According to the last will and testament of
Barney P. King, dated May 1 2, 1 897, this land
(300 acres) was left to his wife and two sons, B.
Ascall King and L.P. King, of whom L.P. was
the maternal grandparent of R. Glenn
Ogburn.

In another deed dated July 12, 1891, it
showed Joseph P. Ogburn, paternal grandpar-
ent of R. Glenn Ogburn, owning land adjoin-
ing the King property.

L.T. Ogburn, father, bought land from his
brother-in-law, Charlie King, and wife, Mar-
garet, January 25, 1904; from his father-in-
law, L.P. King, November 25, 1922, and
inherited land from his father, Joseph P.
Ogburn.

Throughout his lifetime, L.T. Ogburn
farmed the land, growing corn, cotton, tobac-
co, wheat, etc., ran a sawmill and cotton gin.
He and his wife, Sarah King Ogburn, known
as "Sannie," reared eight children to be
grown. They divided their property in 1945.

R. Glenn and Lela R. Ogburn became own-
ers of 78 acres of this land in Pleasant Grove
Township in western Johnston County which
included the homeplace built around 1900.
This land is farmed today, growing grain,
tobacco and cows. A daughter and two grand-
sons also have homes on this property.

It should be noted that four generations
have made the homeplace their home: Begin-
ning with L.T. and Sarah (Sannie) Ogburn,
then R. Glenn and Lela R. Ogburn, their
daughter and son-in-law, Sarah O. and Ben
Blalock; a grandson, Tony Blalock resides
there now.

While completing a major renovation
recently, Tony learned that some of the house
was constructed with pegs. A child's leather
button shoe was found in one of the walls. A

new chimney had to be constructed but stones
from the original one were worked into the
bricks of the new one. Original hardwood
floors, a chandelier featuring glass arms and a
myriad of cut glass prisms are in the dining
room that once was the bedroom where his
mother Sarah was born.

Submitted by Lela R. Ogburn

THE PEACOCK FARM

In 1832 Asa Bryan Peacock got the^land
from Lewis, David and William Peacock. The
land went from Asa Bryan Peacock to George
Franklin Peacock and John Bryan Peacock in
1868. In 1899 John Bryan Peacock divided
and deeded his land to seven heirs that includ-
ed David Lawrence Peacock. David Law-
rence Peacock bought George Franklin Pea-
cock's tracts. The Mandy Peacock Tart tract
was purchased in 1923. In 1947 David Law-
rence Peacock divided his land between two
sons, one of whom was Lawrence B. Peacock,
who is the present owner. This farm is located
in Meadow Township near Benson.

I 5 "J

The home of Lawrence B. Peacock.

Crops grown on the farm were corn, cotton,
tobacco, sweet potatoes, soybeans, cane and
always a garden. Livestock was also grown for
market and home use. There was at one time
a brick mill located on the farm.

The Asa Bryan Peacock home was located
on this property, but due to extensive deterio-
ration was torn down.

The house that is the Lawrence B. Peacock
home was erected in 1925 with additions add-
ed later. His wife is Addie Corene Wood Pea-
cock. They reared three daughters here. They
are Alice Joyce P. Lee, Zilphia Grey P. Adams
and Judy Carol P. Warren.

Submitted by Lawrence B. Peacock

THE PEEDIN FARM

Newit Peedin married Polly Spencer on
September 21,1 804. They were the parents of
one daughter. Newit Peedin married his sec-
ond wife, Sally Tiner on April 8, 1811. Newit
Peedin was the father of seven children. They
were Elizabeth, William James, Alpha, Alvin,
John, Amos J., and Sarah Ann.

Amos J. was Stephen's grandfather. Newit
Peedin migrated from Virginia to Johnston
County with his two brothers, James and Wil-
liams. In 1803 Newit Peedin bought a parcel
of land containing 1 50 acres from Henry Oli-
ver for the sum of 30 pounds. William Peedin
and Amos Peedin were witnesses for the deed.
Between 1 803 and 1 846 Newit Peedin bought
more than 1000 acres of land in Johnston
County, all in Pine Level Township.

131

Amos Peedin was the father of Barney
Peedin. Barney Ingram Peedin was the father
of Stephen Barney Peedin. Stephen Barney
was born on November 15, 1884 and died
April 5, 1968.

He lived all his life on the same farm where
he was born. He married Rhoda Jane Thomp-
son, and they raised seven children. After his
death his farm was divided equally among his
seven children. I, Eula Mae Woodard, now
own two shares and farm three shares. We
grow corn, wheat and soybeans. It is good
land and we grow good crops on it when the
weather is suitable. We have had two mighty
dry years lately. I wish my daddy could have
lived longer and seen how my son tends the
land now with his big tractors and combine.
My daddy used to keep the ditch banks cut
with a bush ax. Now my son has a side boy
mower on the tractor and a cab so he can do it
even when the weather is cold. We have just
finished planting wheat on two shares of the
Peedin farm. My daddy enjoyed working on
the farm and seeing the crops grow. The farm
is located in Pine Level Township, but the
mailing address is Princeton, R-l, and we
children all went to school at Princeton.

The names of Stephen's seven children in
the order they were born: Robert Amos
Peedin (2/17/08-12/5/82); Kizzie Ophelia
Peedin (10/12/09-11/11/64); Lizzie Jean
Peedin (2/26/11-11/23/56); Lillie Exline
Peedin (11/10/12); Merlin Albert Peedin ( 1 21
9/16-1/23/86); Eula Mae Peedin Woodard
(12/17/22); Stephen Maxwell Peedin (10/21/
28). Submitted by Eula Mae Woodard

THE PITTMAN FARM

The earliest record of ownership of land by
Pittmans in Johnston County is the land grant
made to William Pittman. In fact, there were
two grants, for two parcels of land: one for 1 00
acres and one for 200 acres, and both dated
December 12, 1778.

Frederick Fiveash and wife, Millender,
came to Johnston County from Ireland before
1 797, because records show that Patsy
Fiveash was born in Johnston County in
1797.

Garry Pittman was born in 1789. He and
Patsy Fiveash were married in Johnston
County August 12, 1816. There were at least
ten children born to that marriage. Some are:
William, 1824; Jonas, 1829; Benjamin, 1831;
John, 1832; Penny; Micajah Thomas, 1840;
Nancy, 1844; and Pinetta, 1846.

Garry Pittman transferred approximately
100 acres of land to his son Micajah Thomas
in September 1868. Micajah married Piety
Ward in 1865. There were two children:
Micajah Grooms, 1862-1931; and Victoria
Mero, 1868-1886.

Micajah Thomas married a second time,
Pennie Ann Elizabeth Senie Frances Alford,
March 17, 1881. There were three sons born
in this marriage: Thomas Austin Pittman,
(1884-1938); Charlie Ernest Pittman (1889-
1979) and William Harvey Pittman (1892-
1970).

Austin Pittman married Daisy Edgerton
June 1 2, 1 907. In this marriage were born two
daughters: Mary Elizabeth, born September
19, 1911, who married Irvin Davis in 1948,
and Clara Lee, born July 13, 1913, who mar-
ried Clarence Kirby in 1 939. Clarence died in
1977.

Johnston

Mary Elizabeth and Clara still own their
father's portion of the original grant that was
made in 1778.

Mary Elizabeth and Irvin Davis have a
daughter, Nancy Elizabeth, who married
Warren Moore. They live in Washington,
N.C. They have a son, Clif Moore, and a
daughter, Mary Elizabeth.

Clara and Clarence Kirby have a son, Clar-
ence Austin, who has a son, Clarence Austin,
II, in a first marriage. Austin is married a sec-
ond time to Carolyn Mozingo. They have a
daughter, Kristen and a son Mark Pittman
Kirby. Submitted by Mary E. Pittman Davis and
Clara Pittman Kirby

THE PITTMAN FARM

Since the early 1800s six generations of
Ballances and Pittmans have been landown-
ers and farmers in Johnston County. For nat-
ural love and affection, John Slaughter deed-
ed to his daughter, Peggy S. Ballance, a certain
tract of land in Beulah Township east of Little
River on 301 Highway south of Kenly.

Lawrence and Fannie Pittman and their children,
Henry Albert Pittman, Leo Pittman and Ruth Pitt-
man Scott in 1948.

William and Peggy Ballance deeded to
Teagle Ballance 468 acres. Teagle and his son,
Ruffin, purchased and traded or inherited
various tracts of land in the same general area.

Henry B. Ballance, son of Ruffin, died
when Fannie (his daughter), was only seven
years old. His wife, Mattie, and family carried
on the family tradition of farming.

On the Ballance farm there was a spring of
water down in the woods which they were sure
was a supply of drinking water for the Indians.
The railroad was built close to the spring.
Henry Pittman, Fannie's son, can remember
in the 1940s that the section-hand workers
from the railroad would stop and drink water
from this spring. Believe it or not, in 1 987, the
Town of Kenly condemned an area beside the
railroad to put in sewage pipes, which went
directly over the spring.

Fannie married Lawrence Pittman. The
Pittmans were also a family of farm owners.
Gary Pittman had received land from Jethro
Pittman and bought some land and deeded it
to Benjamin in 1856, deeded to Albert J. Pitt-
man in 1 895, deeded to Lawrence Pittman in
1933, and his share to me, Henry Albert Pitt-
man in 1957.

This was a tobacco, grain and cotton farm,
and most important, the families raised what
they had to eat. The staples that had to be
bought were mostly salt, sugar and coffee,
which were traded most of the time for eggs,

butter, cured meat or potatoes that were pro-
duced on the farm.

History passed down from the Pittman gen-
erations was that Lawrence Pittman's grand-
father died from pneumonia during the Civil
War. When Henry Albert Pittman's great-
great-great-grandmother was a small girl, she
played under a pear tree while her family
worked the cotton fields. This is the only tree
on this land today and is still producing a
small sugar pear. This tree is known to be over
1 50 years old.

Lawrence and Fannie B. Pittman were ded-
icated to hard work, and love for the land, like
generations before them and that is the reason
it is considered a century farm today.

Named after both grandparents, Henry
Albert Pittman is the youngest son of Law-
rence and Fannie B. Pittman. He married
Frances Mercer of Wilson County, February
14, 1959. They have three children, Bobby,
Deborah and Doug.

Submitted by Henry Pittman

THE RICHARDSON FARM

Farm L 5 (2663) in Johnston County con-
sisting of approximately 500 acres is the only
portion of John Richardson's (1711-1802)
3938 acres which is still owned by a direct
descendant of John Richardson. It is now
owned by Jean McLean and farmed with the
help of Ronnie Strickland, one of Johnston
County's outstanding young farmers.

John's son, Joseph Richaidson, M.D.,
( 1 7 74- 1 840) had a son named Lunceford who
was born on this farm and who inherited the
homestead portion. This man was Lunsford I.
He married Laurinda Vinson December 20,
1 836. At the time of his wedding he was oper-
ating a farm, sawmill, gristmill and cotton gin.
He was drowned trying to save a customer's
meal during a flood in 1856. The present
Atkinson Mill is built on the site and part of
the foundation of this mill.

Of this union there were six children; two of |
whom are of interest to this story. Lunsford II,
developer of the formula for Vicks Croup and
Pneumonia Salve and founder of the Vick
Chemical Company, and his sister, Martha
Ann Rutha who married Thomas H. Atkin-
son of Boone Hill on October 12, 1859. The
Atkinson plantation home was destroyed by
the federal soldiers following the Battle of
Bentonville. Since Mr. Atkinson had invested
heavily in the confederacy, the end of the Civ- 1
il War found him in bad financial shape. The
Atkinson farm soon passed into other hands.
Mr. Atkinson then moved his family to Par-
ker Heights, the home of his wife's widowed
mother, Laurinda Vinson Richardson. There
he built a companion house to the Richardson
house for his family.

Thomas Atkinson and Martha Ann Rutha
brought up a family of two daughters and five
sons on this farm during the period of poverty
which existed throughout the south between
1860 and 1900. In 1881 a fire completely 1
destroyed these two homes. At this point Mr.,
Atkinson a broken and defeated man moved
his family to Selma so the younger children
could continue their education and he
"batched it" in a tenant house on the farm and
ran the mill, seeing his family when he could.
Later, Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson moved tc
Washington D.C. to be near their children
who were living there; Dr. Wade H. Atkinson.!

132

Johnston

Thos H. Atkinson, druggist Albert S.J. Atkin-
son, architect and Mrs. Minna Cannon.

Through several transfers of title between
members of the family in 1930 the farm was
awned by Dr. Wade H. Atkinson. About this
time he retired from active practice and spent
much of his time in Johnston County. He had
a great love for his native state, county and
O'Neals Township. This he demonstrated by
performing many operations without charge,
jiving awards to school children for various
achievements, donating land for a Boy Scout
Camp and other local civic affairs. At his
death in 1942, the farm passed to his wife,
Mary E. Atkinson. Today there is a Wade H.
Atkinson Memorial Library and Community
building, a scholarship fund at UNC-CH for
children in O'Neals Township, and other
traces of his influence are in the area.

A portion of the farm was deeded to the
Carolina Pines Girl Scout Council and is now
Camp Mary Atkinson Girl Scout Camp locat-
sd on Highway 42. Submitted by Jean McLean

THE RICHARDSON FARM

This farm was owned by Apple White
Richardson prior to and during the Civil War.
Apple White was born October 17, 1801, and
died April 28, 1875. He is buried in the family
cemetery on the farm. He married three times
and raised 25 children. His third wife, Martha
Stone Richardson, was my grandmother. She
was born January 21, 1827 and died August
25, 1 90 1 . According to family history, Apple
White owned everything between the Little
River and Buffaloe Creek. When the Yankees
came through, his Masonic ring saved his life,
the farm and the house. A part of the farm was
given to Charlie H. Richardson, a son of
Apple White, who was my father. Upon his
death, the farm was divided into eight farms
for each of his children, approximately 25
acres each. The homeplace was left to me. The
two-story part of the house and one standing
storage building were built by Apple White
Iprior to the Civil War.

The Richardson home. The two story section was
built before the Civil war.

At the present time the crops grown on the
farm are vegetables, grapes, pecans, soybeans
and Christmas trees. Four generations of the
Richardson family are now living on the part
of the original farm my father owned.

Submitted by John R. Richardson

THE ROSE FARM

i The Joseph Rose, Sr. farm location is East
, Meadow Township. This farm has been in the
Rose family for over 100 years. During the

Civil War there was a water mill on this farm.
The present owner is Joseph B. Rose, Sr. of
Kinston. Joe has made many improvements
over the years such as ponds, grapevines and
a duck field.

The farm is a great weekend retreat in the
fall and spring. Walking in the woods any day
is the best medicine for stress and getting
close to nature. Submitted by Joseph B. Rose, Sr.

THE SANDERS FARM

There is a deed recorded in the Johnston
County courthouse showing the division of
the lands of William H. Watson and Henry
Bulls Watson, brothers, inherited as tenants
in common from their uncle. Dr. Josiah O.
Watson, who died in 1 852. This land was sur-
veyed and divided between them in 1853.
William H. received 691 acres valued at
$2,764. Henry Bulls' tract was 827 acres val-
ued at the same amount.

The second snow of 1979 on the Sanders farm in
Johnston County.

At this time Henry Bulls Watson was a cap-
tain in the U.S. Marines and lived in Ports-
mouth, Virginia. Upon inheriting the proper-
ty, Captain Watson made arrangements to
have an old house located on the edge of the
low grounds moved and rebuilt at a site on the
public road three miles southeast of Smith-
field, known as the River Road to Goldsboro.

In 1854, having retired, Captain Watson
brought his wife and three children to North
Carolina to begin a life of plantation owner.
Agnes Aylwin Watson was born August 23,
1855.

All went well until the outbreak of the Civil
War. Captain Watson, having served under
the flag of the United States and fought
through the war with Mexico, was opposed to
fighting against the U.S. flag, never the less he
offered his services and was stationed at
Southport in the confederate navy. Being in
poor health he resigned his commission and
later was appointed colonel in command of
entrenchments at Weldon. His only son, Hen-
ry L. Watson, joined the 1st Company to be
organized in Smithfield. He was taken prison-
er at Gettysburg and held at Ft. Delaware,
New Jersey until the end of the war.

In March 1 865 part of Sherman's Army, in
the march from Goldsboro to Smithfield, a
detachment of Yankee troops camped in the
field across from the house. The officers who
included General Howard and General
Couch were served dinner on the porch of the
house and they gave orders that the house was
not to be burned. All the livestock, chickens
and food was taken by the Yankees and the
outbuildings burned.

Mrs. Watson died August 17, 1864, at the
age of 49 and Henry Bulls Watson died Janu-
ary 25, 1869, age 56. The plantation was left
to his four children and divided into eight
lots, four farmland and four low grounds.
Agnes drew lots one with the house and lot
eight on the Neuse River. She married Hez-
ikiah Peterson and had cwo children, Henry
W. and Mary Bynum. Henry left home at an
early age and went to Greensboro. Mary mar-
ried D. Hooper Sanders in 1911. Agnes Wat-
son Peterson left her property to Henry and
Mary. Later Mary and Hooper bought Hen-
ry's share. In subsequent years they also came
into possession of the rest of the Watson prop-
erty.

Mary and Hooper Sanders had seven chil-
dren, one dying in infancy. Hooper died in
1945 and Mary in 1966 leaving the farm
divided among their six children, four of
whom are living and between them own and
live on the original tract of land. Farming
operations continue to the present time.

Elizabeth B. Sanders has the homeplace
and lives in the original house sharing the low
grounds tract on the river with Martha. Eliza-
beth also has Alice's inheritance.

Susan, wife of R. Glen Barbour, owns road
front property and a low grounds tract and
they live on the farm.

Martha, widow of Walter Burns, owns road
front and low grounds and has her home
across the farm pond. All three, Elizabeth B.
Sanders, Susan S. Barbour and Martha S.
Burns have been listed among the century
farm families since 1975.

Submitted by Elizabeth B. Sanders

THE STEPHENSON FARM

It is a privilege to be recognized as a farm
family whose continuous ownership dates
back for more than 100 years. The loyal dedi-
cation and numerous years of hard work by
our forefathers and mothers made this possi-
ble.

Maytle J. Stephenson.

The old family cemetery located on the
farm reflects the rich heritage of the past and
brings to life an inspiration and challenge to

133

Johnston

keep the Stephenson farm in the hands of our
children and future generations. Slaves and
master were laid to rest in this cemetery.

The tomb of "Grand Pap," George Ste-
phenson, who owned the Stephenson planta-
tion until the late 1 860s, speaks out to us with
the inscription "age unknown." (The Ste-
phenson family has determined that George
Stephenson was born in 1814 and died in
1886.)

The historic tomb of Manly Stephenson
bears the inscription, "Civil War, Company
D, 50th Regiment, North Carolina Troops."
Manly, son of George, owned the lands from
1869 until 1902.

George William Stephenson, son of Manly,
owned the land from 1902 until 1932. Wil-
liam Paul Stephenson, Sr., son of George Wil-
liam, married Maytle Johnson in 1923 and
they gained possession of the land in 1 932.

Times have changed. William Paul Ste-
phenson, Sr. is now deceased, but Maytle J.
Stephenson continues to live on the produc-
tive farm that has been in the possession of the
Stephenson family for well over 150 years.
Maytle Stephenson has four children who will
inherit the farm and will strive to protect its
heritage. Submitted by Maytle J. Stephenson

THE TOMLINSON FARM

Documented by recent historical surveys
as the most complete pre-Civil War farm in
Johnston County and believed to be the coun-
ty's third oldest home, Tanglewood Farm has
always been known as a place of warmth, cor-
diality, and genuine love of people.

Tanglewood farm in Clayton, N.C.

The original plantation of 1,000 acres was
purchased by Bernice Harris Tomlinson in
1834, and has remained in the Tomlinson
name ever since. The spacious house contain-
ing 13 rooms, two large hallways and two
stairways was built in 1 834- 1 835 by Bernice,
better known as "Buck," for his new bride, the
former Elizebeth Walton.

The couple received 12 slaves as one of
their wedding presents. Under the supervi-
sion of a carpenter contracted by Buck, these
slaves provided the construction labor. It
took one year to complete the home. A young
bachelor was paid $ 1 00 plus room and board
for his year's work.

The house is constructed entirely of native
long-leaf pine, hand-hewn and put together
with wooden pegs. Handmade bricks from
the chimneys for the eight original fireplaces.

Originally, the kitchen was located about
100 feet from the main house where the food
was prepared by slaves and brought to the

main house to be served after emancipation.
This kitchen was eliminated and a new kitch-
en, dining room and pantry still separate from
the main house, were added on the east side.
The new addition, now connected by a
breezeway to the main house, is still being
used today.

Bernice Tomlinson, a county surveyor, as
well as farmer, and wife, Elizebeth reared six
children, the oldest of whom was John Harris
Tomlinson. John Harris and wife, Susan
Wall, became the next owners of Tanglewood.
Also a surveyor and farmer, John Harris
served as a second lieutenant in the Confeder-
ate Army (Company C 53rd regiment). After
the war he returned to Tanglewood and dedi-
cated himself to the task of rebuilding the
grand plantation. John and his wife raised
seven children, of which William David
Tomlinson, better known as Will, was the
youngest and became the third owner.

Will Tomlinson was a farmer, surveyor,
and inventor. He built and operated a cotton
gin, steam powered sawmill and in 1910 built
what is now the only remaining mule barn in
the county with 1 5 stalls, two corn cribs, har-
ness room and spacious overhead hayloft.
Will was famous for his fine rubber tired bug-
gy drawn by his horse Frisky, who could
always find the way home without being guid-
ed by the reins.

Will Tomlinson married Alta Perkins in
1915 and had three children. Upon his
untimely death in 1 934 Alta and the children
moved to Washington, D.C. and Will's sister,
Emma Augusta Tomlinson, became the
fourth Tomlinson to rule Tanglewood.
Emma, who never married, was a school
teacher and maintained the farm until 1970,
when she deeded it to her brother Will's oldest
son, Charles Edgar Tomlinson and his wife,
Alice. Charles, an engineer, farmer and lover
of fine horses along with his wife Alice set
about the task of restoring Tanglewood farm
to reflect the glory and tradition started in
1835. Submitted by Charles and A lice Tomlinson

THE VINSON FARM

John Vinson came to Johnston County in
1762 from Virginia and settled along the
south side of the Neuse River on 1040 acres.
Some 600 acres of this original tract still
belong to his descendants. Drury Vinson, son
of John, lived in Johnston County all his life,
and Drury's son, Archibald, was born in 1 776.
He later married Ruth Smith, and their son,

This photo was taken in 1956, pictured, L to R: Aunt
Bettie Vinson, Ola Parker (my grandmother), Mary
Parker Oliver (my mother), and Beebe Oliver Parker.
Four generations.

James, and wife, Elizabeth Bridgers, owned
the land.

Next in line of ownership came young
Drury Vinson and wife, Elizabeth Lassiter,
who had six children. Aunt Bettie Vinson was
one of these children and the first ancestor I
remember visiting on the "Vinson Farm."
Aunt Bettie, my great-great-aunt was born in
1 866 and lived in Johnston County all her life,
94 years. She remembered growing up on her
family 600 acre farm between Wilson's Mills
and Selma on the Neuse River. She delighted
in telling us about the way it used to be when
they had five free slaves and three half-
Indians working for the family who grew
corn, oats, peas, cotton — no tobacco in those
early years but everything else needed to eat,
including their meats.

Aunt Bettie and a brother acquired this
family farm at the death of their mother Eliza-
beth. My great-great-grandmother Mary Ann
was not named to receive any of the land in
her mother's will, but when aunt Bettie died
in 1 960, she willed the land in parts to all liv-
ing heirs of her sister Mary, one of whom was
my mother, Mary Parker Oliver. The land
aunt Bettie acquired at the death of her broth-
er J.M. Vinson, she willed to her niece Ida
Parker Brown, a daughter of Ann, and to her
great niece Mary Parker Oliver, my mother,
in equal parts. In 1 964 the land passed to me,
Beebe Oliver Parker, for life. Some 1 30 acres
of this original tract belongs to my cousin
Richard Hinnant.

Today's farm still has beautiful woodlands.
Corn and beans were grown there last year
and tobacco until 1985. The Southern Rail-
road runs through the property, the Neuse
River borders the north side, and 70-A High-
way is on the south side. The family cemetery,
as well as a house built for aunt Bettie,
remains there as a reminder of the past.

Submitted by Beebe O. Parker

THE WEAVER FARM

On November 1 , 1 845 Jesse James Weaver
bought and owned 400 acres of land in John-
ston County, five miles east of Benson, North
Carolina in Meadow Township.

He married Emmunize Watkins. They had
five girls and two boys. The girls were Eliza-
beth, Harriett Jane, Deal Ann and Mary Ban.
He lived to be a very old man. His first wife,
Emmunize, died and he married her sister,
Harriett Watkins. When Harriett died, he
married Mary Marenda Lawhon.

The oldest girl, Elizabeth Weaver, married
Joe Allen Parker. They had a son named Wil-
liam Preston Parker. He inherited the last 14
acres of land January 23, 1 900 from his grand-
father, Weaver, for taking care of him until
his death. He was 100 years old when he
passed away on May 8, 1911, and he is buried
on the same tract of land.

William Preston Parker married Annie
Franklin Lawhon. They had a daughter,
Dorothy Catherine Parker. She married
Arthur B. Williams and they had a son, Leslie
Warren Williams. He married Matilda
McGee and had four girls and one boy. They
were Jacqueline W. Lee, Patricia W. Monta-
gue, Mitchell Warren Williams, Sherry W. J
Lee and Sharlene W. Avery.

The oldest daughter, Jacqueline W. Lee,
and her husband, William Homer Lee, Sr.,
now own the 14 acres which they bought on!

134

i

May 15, 1978. The land is now in the sixth
generation. They farm the land and have
cleared several acres for pasture where they
plan to raise horses. They have two children,
William Homer Lee, Jr. and Angela Lorraine
Lee.

Their future plans are for the land to be
handed down to the seventh generation. The
land has been in the family since November 1 ,
1845.

Submitted by William H. and Jacqueline W. Lee

THE NEEDHAM WHITLEY PLACE

On October 11,1830 Needham H. Whitley
of Wilders Township, Johnston County,
North Carolina, finished paying for his land
and received his deed from Allen Richardson.
His home was built and finished at the time he
received his deed. He named his home
(ca.1830) "The Needham Whitley Place."

The back of the old kitchen on the Needham Whitley
Farm. Built before the Revolutionary War, it has
notched and hand fitted beams, and was put together
with wooden pegs.

Needham and Zilphia Williamson Whitley
lived and reared their ten children here. Most
of the children are buried here as well.

On the farm were grown herds of sheep, a
forest with its harvest of lumber and turpen-
tine, flax, indigo, corn, wheat, rye, oats, mil-
let, orchards, vineyards, plus damsons, figs,
plums and berries. Also grown were cotton,
tobacco, watermelons, cantaloupes, pea
vines, hay and lespedeza garden. There was
always one to four acres of each vegetable
crop. Sweet potatoes, rutabagas, field peas,
butter beans, snaps, Irish potatoes, winter
squash and citron were all grown. They also
raised horses, goats, rabbits, geese, chickens,
hogs and guineas. They made their cheeses,
sausages, rendered their lard, salt cured their
pork, dried fruit and vegetables, corned beef,
brined their snaps and cucumbers and spun
their own linen thread, wool thread and cot-
ton thread. They made their own clothes from
cloth of woven cotton and linen which they
dyed and wore on the farm.

Needham H. Whitley left his place to his
wife, Zilphia Williamson Whitley. She left it
to her daughter, Sarah Elizabeth Whitley.
While living, Sarah Elizabeth gave the prop-
erty to her nephew, Adolphus D. Atkinson.
Adolphus, while living, deeded the property
to his daughter Claudia Atkinson. He also
gave three other daughters a farm from this
homeland. Lois Mae Atkinson Andrews is
one of the daughters of Aldolphus Atkinson
and his wife, Mary Jane (Mollie) Barham
Atkinson.

Submitted by Lois May Atkinson Andrews

Johnston

THE ZILPHIA WILLIAMSON
WHITLEY FARM

On November 25, 1861 in Wilders Town-
ship, Johnston County, North Carolina, Zil-
phia Williamson Whitley, a widow, bought
633 acres of land from William Hinnant. This
was added to "The Needham Whitley Place."

Adolphus D. Atkinson and "Mollie" Mary Jane
Barham Atkinson, May 1, 1904.

This land was rented to tenants. It grew for-
estry and its by-products, cotton, corn, tobac-
co, wheat, hay, orchards, grapes and vegeta-
bles. Cows, chickens, other livestock, and
fowl are grown here also.

Zilphia Williamson Whitley left this land to
her youngest child, Catharine (Katie) Whitley
Atkinson. Katie gave the land to her son,
Adolphus D. Atkinson, who in turn deeded
the land to his daughter, Lorna Atkinson Bai-
ley Batten. In 1987 Lorna gave this land to her
children Ramona Bailey Phillips and Wilbur
Marion Bailey.

Needham Whitley left the land to his wid-
ow, Zilphia Williamson Whitley, who left her
daughter a share of the Needham Whitley
Place. The farm then went to Sarah Elizabeth
Whitley who gave her nephew, Adolphus D.
Atkinson, her land. Adolphus D. Atkinson
divided his share of this land into four farms.
Submitted by Lois May Atkinson Andrews, daugh-
ter of Adolphus D. Atkinson and wife, Mary Jane
Barham Atkinson, (Mollie)

THE WILLIAMS FARM

On December 8, 1888 Camel R. Williams
and Mathursday Godwin Williams bought
this farm and raised eight children. The farm
is located in Johnston County seven miles
east of Benson, North Carolina off Highway
96 south in Meadow Township.

His youngest son, Arthur B. Williams, con-
tinued to carry on the farming, later married
Dorothy Parker and they had one child, a son,
Leslie Warren Williams. Leslie married
Matilda McGee, and they had five children:
Jacqueline W. Lee, Patricia W. Montague,
Mitchell Warren Williams, Sherry W. Lee,
and Sharlene W. Avery, who now own the
farm. This is the fourth generation. We con-
tinue to carry out the farming, but all have
other interests as well.

We had a disaster happen to our 100 year
old farm. 1-40 from Raleigh to Wilmington
came through it. We cannot stand in the way
of progress, so maybe the next generation will
profit from all of our disappointments.

We are very proud to know our ancestors
wanted the land to remain in the family.

Submitted by Jacqueline W. Lee

THE WILLIAMS FARM

Much of this information comes from the
sharp memory of 96 year old Carrena Boykin
Williams, granddaughter of William and
Temperance Rains (founder of the Rains'
Free Will Baptist Church located between
Princeton and Kenly).

The William Boykin family 1905. Carrena Boykin
Williams seen at extreme left.

William and Temperance's daughter, Cath-
erine Rains, was born May, 1857, and died
March, 1924. Catherine's husband was Wil-
liam Boykin and they had five daughters: Ella,
Carrena, Eva, Sadie, Annie, and one son, Wil-
lie. Three of these daughters are still living
and all are in their 90s in age.

Some of Carrena's memories:

"My grandpa's father was John Rains and
he lived during the Revolutionary War. On
his homestead plantation he grew corn and
had many fruit orchards. Many arrowheads
have been found in our fields and it was said
that Indians camped in this area. Folklore
tells of an area called "Peach Rock" which
was an Indian burial ground. It was a huge
rock stuck up from the ground and a fascinat-
ing place for all neighbor kids to play."

Carrena mentions that she remembers a
tale that her great-grandfather, John Rains,
had a long white beard and when he died he
was buried with that beard parted in the mid-
dle and tied with two blue ribbons.

Grandpa, William Rains' original home-
place, has been torn down but it consisted of
a "great house" with porches on the front and
side. A separate kitchen house, smokehouse,
and a one-seater outhouse. (Later when the
new house was built a modern "three-seater"
outhouse was added.) There was plenty of
timber on the farm so some went toward
building a railroad across Little River to haul
the timber to other areas of the county. Great
grandpa, John, gave Granny 40 slaves instead
of land. (Carrena remembers seeing the small
slave houses up and down the path from the
homeplace).

"During the Civil War when Sherman's
Army came through Johnston County, they
took everything alive or edible. Grandpa used
dump carts to put half of the smoked meat on
wooden planks in the water well and covered
it with straw so the Yankees couldn't find it.
Grandpa also had plenty of grapevines and he
had a contract to make wine for the govern-
ment. Those Yankees got his wine too! When
he heard that the yanks were coming back
again to get the rest of his property, grandpa
sat on the porch day and night with all his
guns around him and with one rifle across his
lap ready to shoot any Yankees who came

135

Johnston — Jones — Lee

back. Several companies camped in and
around the homeplace for days, but they
didn't bother grandpa again."

In 1 877 Grandpa Rains gave an acre of his
land to build a church and V2 acre for the cem-
etery. Thus, the Rains' Cross Road Free Will
Baptist Church was established.

C arrena and husband, Rev. Walter R. Wil-
liams, had eight children: Daniel, Walter R.,
Billie, Juanita, LaVee, and Boyce. Two chil-
dren died as infants. Walter R. Jr.'s wife and
four children, Mike, Sam, Robbie, and Tere-
sa, are still living on part of the original home-
stead and have farmed full-time until 1987.
Crops grown through the years were corn, cot-
ton, soybeans, fruit trees and later tobacco.
Livestock consisted of chickens and turkeys,
mules, hogs and always several milk cows.
Submitted by Joanne ( '. H illiams, wife of W 'alter

K Williams Jr.

THE WILSON FARM

In the iale 1700s and early 1 800s John Mar-
shall Wilson, along with his sons Charles Mar-
shall and William Gilliam, bought several
thousand acres of land for the timber. One
parcel consisting of 809 acres was divided.
Charles Marshall became owner of the farm
known as The Cypress, which contained 1 52
acres. In the late 1 930s Walton Clair, his son,
became owner; upon Clair's death in 1946,
his son Charles Walton Wilson became the
owner.

The region came to be known as Cypress
Field because of the cypress trees growing in
and around the locale; the theory being that a
lake created mi 11 ions of years ago by a meteor-
ite existed where the field is now. Over the
years, most of the water disappeared, and
cypress trees grew in this wet land. The soil,
with its high level of acid, itches and irritates
the skin.

At one time tenants cultivated the land with
mules, but because the land is so acid and wet,
they were forced to stop. In 1 948 Charles Wal-
ton, the owner, dug large ditches, installed tile
and constructed several watering holes to
drain the soil.

Although the high acidity of the soil still
irritates the skin, wheat, corn, soybeans and
vegetables are grown on this land. Vegetables
and tobacco are grown on the upland. In
1967, Charles Walton started a small road-
side stand. For ten years sales increased and
in 1 977 Charles W. and son Charles Thomas
erected a building where vegetables were sold,
and later flowers and crafts. There are eight
greenhouses for early tomatoes and bedding
plants in the spring.

In 1953, Charles Walton built the family
home. Until that time only a tenant house was
on this property. Since his father's death,
Charles Thomas continues to farm. My three
daughters, Pattic Caddell, Trudy Carter,
Rose Thompson, and granddaughter Dawn
Hodge have homes on the farm. Today it is
known as the Wilson Farm.
Submitted by VernaJ. and Charles Walton Wilson

Jones County

THE FOSCUE FARM

This property along the Trent River in
Jones County has been in the Foscue family
since the 1 8th century, one tract going back to

The farm of Verna and Charles Walton Wilson.

gSPlPSEfell

m

Foscue plantation house, built in 1804, in Jones
County.

a 1 707 patent granted to Edward Frank,
grandfather of Nancy Mitchell (second wife
of Simon Foscue) who inherited it. Simon
"acquired a large amount of property and
during his life gave to each of the twelve chil-
dren (by three marriages) a portion, in land
and Negroes," quoting a family memoir.

Simon, Jr. added to his portion and was an
"industrious, frugal honorable man of
wealth." Around 1804 he built a 13 room
house, "solid and firm, of brick molded near
the house, lumber sawn upon the grounds and
lime burnt upon the plantation." This house
is now on the National Register of Historical
Places.

John Edward, the next owner, died in 1 849
at the age of 40, leaving the plantation (reput-
ed to be about 1 0,000 acres) to his widow, who
managed it through the difficult Civil War
years. At one time during the war, she fled to
Goldsboro and then to Thomasville for safe-
ty. The house was spared since it was used as
a hospital; but soldiers, searching for hidden
valuables tore down the family burial vault,
the area is still called the Vault Field. There
are vivid family letters describing the tribula-
tions of farming during those years.

After the war, the property was divided
between the two surviving children, Caroline
and Henry Clay. During Henry Clay's life-
time not a hill of tobacco was ever planted,
because he thought it was bad for the soil. He
practiced crop rotation (mainly cotton and
corn), leaving all fields idle in alternate years.
He and his wife were the last generation to live
in the tall brick house, since their only child,
Dr. John Edward practiced medicine in
Jamestown and died (1920) only two years
after his parents' death.

Their house, built in 1953, is surrounded by trees.

His sons, Henry A. Foscue and James E.
Foscue inherited the property. It now totals
1 356 acres and the farming operation is under
lease, with tobacco, corn and soybeans as the
main crops. The hope and expectation is that
this farm will remain in the family for another
century as well.

Submitted by Mrs. Henry A. Foscue

Lee County

THE EADES FARM

Daniel Hall moved from Cumberland
County to Lee County which at the time was
Moore County in the early 1 860s. He bought
a large tract of land.

Daniel Hall married Mary Carter in 1840.
They had three sons and four daughters. He
was a farmer.

John L. Hall, son of Daniel, bought 28 acres
of land from his father in 1 879 and paid $54
for the land. John L. Hall married Harriett
Nannery. They had two sons and two daugh-
ters. John L. Hall was a farmer. His children
were Martin V., John Berryman, Martha Ann
and Rose Lee. He died when John Berryman
was 1 7, and Martin died four years later. John
Berryman did the farming and worked in a
small store in the community.

John Berryman married Lucy High in 1 929
at the age of 48. Lucy was 32. Their children
were Ruby, Harriett, Nancy, Bobby and
JohnAnna; four girls and one boy. John Ber-
ryman farmed, was a salesman for Royster
Fertilizer, helped organize the Farmer's Edu-
cational and Cooperative Union of America,
and was Treasurer of the Lemm Springs
Methodist Church for 25 years. His son, Bob
B. Hall, is an artist who designed the seal for
the city of Sanford in 1961, the logo for the
Raleigh Civic Center and an award plaque for
the city of Raleigh.

JohnAnna Hall, daughter of John Berry-
man, married Theron J. Eades in 1952.
Theron (Jack) took over the farming in 1953
and has farmed the land and other farms. Jack
Eades and JohnAnna bought the farm from
sisters and brother in 1971 after both parent's
deaths. Jack and JohnAnna have five chil-
dren: Jackie, Hearn, John David, Ann Doug-
las, Sarah Douglas and Debbie Eades. There
are six grandchildren.

Submitted bv JohnAnna Eades

136

Lee

Jack and John Anna Eades with their children, in-laws and grandchildren.

The Irene Brooks Poole portion is owned
by daughter, Veanna Poole Goodwin.
THE HUNT FARM Submitted by Marguerite S. Campbell

Carney Cotton Hunt was a successful
planter in what is now Lee County. At his
death in 1889, his land was inherited by his
four daughters.

The oldest daughter, Susanna Hunt, mar-
ried William Isaac Brooks in 1 884.

About 1888 they built their home, Pine
Knot Farm, on the 350 acre farm. They had
five children (four girls and one boy).

W.I. Brooks became a leader in the commu-
nity. He built a little schoolhouse so popular
in those days. He hired the teacher and invit-
ed the neighborhood children to attend until
public schools were established. It was due to
his efforts that the first rural telephone system
was established and the first free mail deliv-
ery route in his community. He continued
farming until his retirement.

The homeplace of W.I. and Susanna Hunt
Brooks is owned by David Overton, son of
Susie Brooks Overton.

The W.H. Brooks portion is farmed by his
grandson, Tommy Brooks.

The Martha Brooks Swaringen portion is
jointly owned by her children, Steve Swarin-
gen, Gladys Whitley and Marguerite Camp-
bell.

THE LETT FARM

The Lett family is said by researchers to
have been in the area as early as the mid-
1740s.

The Raymond Lett farm.

William Lett entered and claimed October
1 4, 1 779 and issued November 9, 1 784 (250
acres) land grant no. 213 entered November
1 7, 1 778 and issued July 1 779. This land was

Pine Knot farm, home of W.I. and Susanna Hunt Brooks — L to R standing: W.I. Brooks, Susanna Hunt
Brooks, Judah Frances Hunt Cox, Fannie Brooks Lyde and W.H. Brooks. Seated L to R: Susie Brooks Over-
ton, Irene Brooks Poole and Martha Brooks Swaringen.

listed in Orange County, later Chatham and
now Lee County near Lick Creek.

The Raymond Lett farm is a direct line
from Andrew J. Lett. The farm referred to is
a short distance below Buckhorn Dam on the
Cape Fear River at the present corner of Lee
County. State Road 1538 (now Buckhorn
Road) crosses the property.

The river played a very important part in
the lives of the early settlers. It was their high-
way into and out of the region. The rich soil
along its banks was prime farmland before
commercial fertilizer.

Andrew bought and annexed land includ-
ing rocks and islands partly covered by water,
until he became quite prosperous, owning
nearly 2,000 acres. His first interest was graz-
ing cattle, sheep and other livestock. There
was no stock law and the cattle had free range
and fed off the growth of the land until fields
could be cleared. In the summer sheep and
goats were put on islands in the river to graze.

John Wesley was born on this property in
1852, the son of Andrew and Martha
Womack Lett. Ten children were born to him
and his wife, and reared on this property.
Andrew died in 1894 and John Wesley
farmed the property until his death in 1924.

Raymond Lett, his son, inherited a share
and this 1 50 acres is the century farm. Corn
and cotton were the main crops until the
depression and the boll weevil had all but
destroyed the cotton crop. Only corn and
grain were planted in the low grounds as the
river would occasionally flood and destroy
the entire crop.

The clay and heavy gray soil of higher
ground was said not to be suitable for growing
tobacco, but in 1 932 Raymond and his broth-
er, Edd Lett, who lived on adjoining land
(some of the same Lett land he inherited and
is still owned by his son, John Wesley, II and
Edgar Lett) decided to try growing tobacco.
Allotments were not in force at that time. Edd
and Raymond worked side by side until old
age forced them to pass it to the next genera-
tion. The tobacco grew and cured well, thus
becoming the main money crop.

Along with his farming, Raymond was a
blacksmith. Farmers came early in the morn-
ing before he left for the fields and on rainy
days, taking advantage of this time to get their
mules and horses shod.

In 1911, Raymond married Addie Burns
and built a part of this house. More rooms
were added as the family grew to five chil-
dren. Doyette, Lessie, Vernie, Eula and Kur-
ds grew up here. Raymond died in 1 980 at the
age of 89. A son, Doyette, lives here on the
farm. The low grounds still grow corn and
grain and with the Jordan Lake dam, there is
no fear of flooding.

Submitted by Vernie Lett H'omack.

THE MCNEILL FARM

Since at least 1800 four generations have
been landowners and farmers in central
North Carolina.

Matthew K. Watson, my grandfather, and
his brother, Neill Watson, owned a vast
amount of land used for farming purposes
only.

My grandfather, Matthew K. Watson, mar-
ried Julia Howard. To this union eight chil-
dren were born, five daughters and three sons.
All three sons died at an early age from diph-

Lee

theria. Of the five daughters, the youngest,
Matilda Watson, who was my mother, mar-
ried William Alexander (Eck) Sloan. To this
union seven children were born, two boys and
five girls. I, the second youngest, am Annie
Maude Sloan McNeill, widow of Clarence
Moore McNeill.

In 1951 with hard work, good health and
good management, we negotiated and bought
out the other heirs of the William Alexander
(Eck) Sloan farm which originated from the
Matthew K. and Julia Howard Watson estate.

This century farm located in the heart of
Lee County has continued to be farmed to
produce forage for the beef cattle; also, cot-
ton, corn, tobacco, beans, oats, rye and milo.

With hard work, good health, and good
management, and unless something disas-
trous and unforeseen occurs, this land will
continue to be farmed into the next century.
Submitted by Mrs. Clarence M. McNeill (Mrs.

Annie Maude Sloan McNeill)

THE POOLE FARM

Our farm, now 42.5 acres, is known as the
S.L. and Irene Brooks Poole homeplace. This
land was deeded to my mother, Irene Brooks
Poole in 1913. This was part of the farm
owned by her parents, William Isaac and
Susanna Hunt Brooks. Susanna was given this
land by her father, Carney C. Hunt in July
1889. Carney Hunt was deeded this land by
his father, Dempsev Hunt, born January 22,
1793, died July 8, 1865.

S.L. and Irene Brooks Poole around 1941

Silas L. Poole was reared on a farm near
New Hill. After taking a telegraph operators
course in Rome, Georgia, he went to Lemon
Springs to work at the train depot. There he
met my mother who lived with her family
near Sanford. My mother and her sisters were
school teachers. My parents were married in
1910. After working at St. Pauls and Hope
Mills, they decided to move to the farm in
1913.

My father cleared the wooded land, built a
tobacco barn and was among the first tobacco
farmers in Lee County. He built the house
that now stands on the farm.

My brother, William T. Poole, my younger
sister and I helped my father with the farm
work. We raised tobacco, cotton, corn and a
large garden. My mother did the cooking, can-
ning and caring for her family. My parents
went to the curb market in Sanford on Satur-
day mornings where they sold baked goods,
vegetables and dairy products.

My sister, Melba Poole Keye, and her fami-
ly built on part of the homeplace. Her daugh-
ter, Carolyn Keye, and a son, Andy Keye,
both built on lots on the farm. I acquired the
farm after my mother's death in 1 970, buying
my brother and sister's parts. My father died
in 1968. Submitted by Veanna P. Goodwin

THE RIGGSBEE FARM

The uniqueness of my farm is that it is
located inside the city limits of Sanford. It is
the last remaining portion of the original Levi
Gunter farm which I have traced to January
1 5, 1850 by deed. The farm is older than that;
however, as evidenced on the deed of January
1 5, 1 850, which lists one of the survey calls as
ending at Levi Gunter's corner. This is defi-
nite evidence of a farm prior to the addition of
that purchase of acreage. The farm has con-
tinuously been in the family, passing to Truss
B. Gunter, my grandfather and son of Levi
Gunter; then to my mother, a school principal
and teacher in Sanford for 40 years. She is
now deceased.

The farm is now out of cultivation and has
some 50 year old trees in the timber, both
hardwood and pine.

The original farmhouse and gin have been
removed for many years. My present home is
nine years old. I am a N.C. retired state troop-
er and investigator for the state of North Car-
olina and live with my wife of 42 plus years.
Our son and two daughters are married and
we have four grandchildren.

Submitted by William A. Riggsbee

THE SCOGGINS FARM

Since 1856, four generations of the Wicker
and Scoggins family have owned and farmed
land that was inherited and bought in the
southeastern part of Moore (now Lee) Coun-
ty.

In 1856 John A. Wicker bought 100 acres of
land, located on the Big Juniper Creek, from
Alexander Mc.Iver. In 1 870 Margaret Wicker
bought 96 acres from Joseph D. Morris and
wife Catherine. She and husband, John A.
Wicker, reared six children and farmed this
land until 1895. At this time the land was
divided into six parts.

Mary Ann Wicker Scoggins inherited one
share and she and husband E.M. Scoggins
bought three more shares making a total of
108 acres.

E.M. and Mary were the parents of four
daughters, two of whom died young. At the
death of E.M. and Mary, Mattie and Cather-
ine inherited the farm. They farmed the land
growing cotton, tobacco and corn.

In 1921 Mattie and Catherine adopted a
son and daughter, Walter and Martha. They
inherited the farm in 1938.

Front: Sarah Jane Scoggins. Back, L to R: Mattie,
Catherine and Mary Scoggins.

In 1 939 Walter married Ruby Rogers. They
reared three children, Alfred, Carolyn, and
Dianne, who grew up on the farm and helped
with the farming operation. In 1942 Walter
bought Martha's one half share.

After 1944 the tobacco and cotton were
grown by a tenant while Walter planted corn,
wheat, and soybeans. At that time he man-
aged the farm and also worked at Ft. Bragg.

In 1952 Walter and Ruby built a seven
room house next door and since that time
have rented the old home.

In 1958 Walter and Ruby bought the
adjoining Brogan land which was originally
part of the Wicker farm, making a total of 242
acres.

Walter has retired but continues to live on
and manage the farm and practice conserva-
tion to preserve the soil and natural resources
of his land.

Submitted by H 'alter and Ruby Scoggins

THE SMITH FARM

The Broadway N.C. Centennial Book
( 1 890- 1 970) states "Records show that one of
the first inhabitants of this community was a
Mr. Hugh Matthews, born in 1808 in the
vicinity of what is currently Sunny Acres. He
died in 1 887 and was buried in the Smith fam-
ily graveyard."

The Smith farm in Broadway, N.C.

The Smith family farm ownership can be
traced back to January 14, 1857 when Hugh
and Edith Matthews purchased 350 acres of

138

land from John Green for $1,050. Hugh and
Edith Matthews had seven children and the
grandmother of the present farm landowner
was the seventh child, Frances Anne Mat-
thews, who was born March 26, 1 860. Part of
the farm as it is now was inherited by Frances
Anne Matthews. J.D. Matthews married the
seventh daughter of Hugh Matthews, Rebec-
ca, who was born November 11, 1851, and
they purchased 107 acres of land for $250 on
October 29, 1881 from Alfred and Sarah J.
Hinesh, and in years to come, a portion of this
was purchased by three of Frances Anne Mat-
thews' children. Frances Anne Matthews
married Albert R. Smith and they had four
children. On July 1 8, 1 928 three of these four
children were still unmarried and they pur-
chased 48 acres in two tracts of adjoining land
from their uncle, J.D. Matthews. One of these
three, John Alton Smith, married Mary Eliza-
beth Allen and they had four children. The
remaining sister and one brother never mar-
ried and their inheritance remained intact to
be passed on to their brother, John Alton's,
children. At the time of his death in 1973,
there remained 1 57 acres of the original farm.
Since that time two of his children have sold
all of their interest in the farm. Two daughters
still retain ownership in 1 13.5 acres, 61.5 of
this being on the designated century farm.
There is one acre deeded off for the Smith
family cemetery. Frances Anne Smith mar-
ried Robert Edmonds and now owns 52 acres
of the Smith farm. Dorothy Lee Smith mar-
ried James William King and now owns 61.5
acres. The family home which was built
around the turn of the century is on the desig-
nated farm and is in the process of being
restored.

Through the years, this fertile land has been
used for a variety of crops. At one time it was
a big cotton producer. Until a few years ago,
there was a railway through the farm and at
one time dewberries were raised and shipped
by rail for commercial use. More recently the
farm has been used mostly for tobacco with
some soybeans, corn and other grains. Much
truck farming has also been done on this farm
in recent years.

The farm is on both sides of Main Street in
Broadway — a portion of the farm actually
being in the city limits. At the present time,
the sixth generation is living on the farm.
Progress moves on and in 1986 the city
installed a sewage system and ran a sewer line
through the farm. But from mules and wagons
to tractor and combines, pole barns to metal
curing barns, wells and springs of water to
running water, outdoor toilets to indoor bath-
rooms, the farming goes on.

Submitted by Mr. and Mrs. James W. King

Lenoir County

THE DAIL FARM

The Dail family farm has been in the family
in excess of 200 years. Land was granted to
Roger Cauley in Lenoir (Dobbs) County on
March 4, 1775 and was passed to Thomas
Cauley, his son. Subsequently, the property
transferred to Stephen Cauley, son of Thomas
Cauley and Elizabeth Nunn Cauley. Upon his
death the land was acquired by his daughter,
Cora Cauley Dail, wife of Sam Dail. Cora
Cauley Dail left the farm to her three children,
Eliza, Giles Samuel and Annie Lee, who are

Lee — Lenoir

all deceased. Presently the farm is owned by
Mrs. Giles S. Dail (Margaret Davis Dail) and
sons. They are R. Lindsey Dail and wife, Lola
Haynes, and Giles Dail, Jr. and wife, Marlene
Reschke, and son, Roger Samuel Dail. The
farm is located in Neuse township in the west-
ern part of the county.

The family farm has survived through hard
work and dedication to the land. There has
been a saying through the years "that if you
look after the land it will look after you."

Submitted by Giles Dail, Jr.

THE HILL FARM

The Hill family has owned land in Lenoir
County since at least 1851. Official records
show ownership as follows: 1851-1878 to
Lannie C. Hill; 1878-1881 to Nathan Hill;
1881-1901 to Jonas Hill; 1901-1954 to John
E. Hill; and 1954 to date Whitford Hill.

Whitford and Gladys Hill (seated). Standing L to R:
Marsha Hill, Sue Hill Rogers, Roger Hill, Eleanor
Hill Goette, and Douglas Hill.

Jonas Hill was the grandfather and John E.
Hill was the father of the present owner, Whit-
ford Hill. Over the years these men bought
and sold various tracts, but at its largest the
farm included many hundreds of acres.

Whitford Hill and wife have now retired
from farming and moved to Raleigh, but they
continue to own and lease out 30 acres of the
original Hill farm at Rt. 1, Deep Run. The
farm, one of North Carolina's most produc-
tive, once grew tobacco, corn and soybeans.

Born January 22, 1913, Whitford Hill has
had a long career in farming and related
fields. On April 21, 1933 the day he graduated
from high school, he married his high school
sweetheart, Gladys Stroud, who had graduat-
ed a year earlier as valedictorian of her class.

They lived and farmed with Whitford's
father until the Farm Security Administra-
tion was established in 1939. They became
the first couple in Lenoir County to qualify
for an FSA loan to buy a farm. It was a 1 00%
loan at three percent for 40 years; they paid it
off in five years.

Over the years Whitford owned and man-
aged farm acreage in Lenoir and Duplin
Counties, producing tobacco, corn, beef cat-
tle and hogs. He retired from active operation
in the early 1960s, but continued for some
years as manager.

He worked on the Kinston tobacco market
for 20 years. He also was employed as an
instructor for World War II veterans in on-
the-job farming. In 1946 he was employed by
the N.C. Department of Agriculture to do sta-
tistical work with the crop reporting service.

Mr. Hill served on the original local and
county PM A committee; was chairman of the
county ASCS committee; chairman of ten-
county ASCS review committee; was a 13-
county regional winner in "Better Farming
for Living" program in 1948.

Whitford was a Lenoir County commis-
sioner for ten years. He served on the Plan-
ning and Building Committee of Lenoir
County Community College and was a mem-
ber of the college's original Board of Trustees.
Other positions held: chairman of Agriculture
Committee; Kinston Chamber of Commerce;
member of local school board; member of
Board of Directors, First Citizens Bank, Pink
Hill, 1954 to date; member of Ridge Road
Baptist Church, Raleigh; a democrat and a
M ason . Submitted by Whitford Hill

THE PARROTT-MOSELEY-
FLETCHER FARM

Harriet Susan Parrott (1834-1875), sister
of my grandfather, Benjamin Franklin Par-
rott (1838-1901), was the first owner known
to us, of the 1 84 acre parcel. She was married
to James Thaddeus "Thad" Askew on August
24, 1858, and to them seven children were
born. Only two of whom (Lucy and Bill) sur-
vived to become adults. Subsequently, Lucy
Askew married her cousin, Lewis Lynn Par-
rott, but none of their children survived. She
later inherited 25 acres of this farm.

A drawing of the Parrott-Moseley-Fletcher farm.

Following the death of my great aunt, Har-
riet S.P. Askew, her widower, Thad, married
Sarah L. (Sack) Waiters. Thus, it was at the
sale of her estate in January 1919 that the 159
acres purchased by my father's uncle, L.C.
Moseley, which 1 2 months later in early 1 920
were bought from him by my father, L.O.
Moseley. Thus was the beginning of the Edge-
wood Farm.

While the money crop was cotton, the ten-
ant labor must have planted corn and hay for
the mule teams, feed for the hogs, chickens
and possibly a few sheep, as well as a garden
and a fruit orchard. Not only was it necessary
to grow food, but fiber was needed for cloth-
ing. Moreover, it was in early 1920 that my
father moved his little family from his late
father's farm (W.O. Moseley) to this farm. Of
the seven children born to my parents, four
girls survived.

To clear the land, to move the barn and sta-
bles and to repair the leaks in the roof of the
old house were high priorities for my father.
"Live-at-home" became the motto of the
family.

Growing from two or three hand-milked
cows in a lean-to shed, the cash-producing

139

dairy operations gradually increased to more
than 24 cows milked by electric milking
machines in a concrete block dairy barn built
by farm labor with two tile silos and a milk
house forcoolingand bottlingthe rich Guern-
sey milk for delivery to the customer's door-
step. Any and all farm chores were the work of
all family members along with tenant family
members.

Crops grown here were gradually changing
from king cotton to king tobacco. Yet, still
with the need for corn and hay for the cows,
fewer mules and more hogs, some soybeans
were inter-planted with the corn. The small
peach orchard came into production about
this time so a roadside stand was built at the
edge of the year on the newly paved road. A
few truck crops were added to be sold with the
peaches, anything to add to cash income. The
six acres planted with Stuart pecan trees were
not productive until many years in the future.

By about 1950 the adjoining farm on the
west was for sale, and the 55 acre strip very
neatly squared-off the farm to a total now of
249 acres. Now a widower in failing health,
L.O. "Tave" Moseley welcomed the next year
his eldest daughter and family, the Paul L.
Fletchers to operate the farm. Subsequently,
following his death, the Fletchers and a sister,
Sally Moseley Lowe, bought the interest of the
other two sisters and formed a partnership
known as "Edgewood Farm."

Today this farm is operated by one full-
time person in addition to manager Tave
Moseley Fletcher. Fave represents the fifth
generation in 1 30 years of known family own-
ership.

A steadily diminishing tobacco allotment
and the restrictive grain crop programs have
necessitated adjustments to ensure our sur-
vival as farmers. Fortunately, when the dairy
phased out in the early 1 950s, those facilities
were adapted to a beef cattle program. At that
time, both feeder calves and fattening-to-
Finish were here, but the demise of local
slaughter houses again necessitated a change.
With the availability of feeder calves at the
NCDA graded sales in North Carolina, inci-
dentally started in the 1940s by Paul L.
Fletcher; about 125 calves are put on winter
grazing of rye each fall. As needed, silage and
a small amount of corn are added and in mid
April these calves are moved to bluegrass
grazing on the Fletcher land in southwest Vir-
ginia for the summer months. By September
they are sold and the process begins again.

Submitted by Isabelle M. Fletcher

THE ROUSE FARM

In 1863 George W. Rouse, my husband's
great-grandfather, owned over 500 acres in
the Liddcll-Wooten's Crossroads section of
Lenoir County. The land has been passed
from generation to generation since that time.
In September 1891 the property was deeded
to George's children by a commissioner's
deed. My husband's grandfather, B.H. Rouse,
George's youngest child, inherited 105 acres
of farmland. At his death in the early 1930s,
Billy's wife, Annie Shivar Rouse, and seven
children inherited the land. In 1947 the land
was equally divided. In November 1979 my
husband, Alton and I purchased his father's
farm, which had narrowed down to 33 acres.
In 1979 farmland was priced very high.

Lenoir

During the past 100 years, tobacco, corn,
beans, wheat and cotton have been grown on
all this land.

Since we bought the farm, the tobacco allot-
ment has decreased by 50%. We grow tobacco
and grain each year. My husband and I both
work off the farm. We have two children who
love and appreciate the farmland just as we
do. We hope to be able to maintain the family
farm and to leave it to our children. We are
very grateful to be able to keep the farm
through these very difficult times.

Submitted by Alton and Mary Gwynn Rouse

THE ROUSE FARM

The Frank Rouse family lives on the north-
western edge of Kinston on land bought by
their great-great-grandfather, William White,
in 1871 from John Tull. In 1872 William
White sold a northern portion of this tract to
his oldest daughter, Mary Ann White and her
husband Bright Hill.

Eliza Ellen White Rouse, Troy Rouse and James
Franklin Rouse.

Before coming to Lenoir County, William
White lived in Greene County near the Lenoir
County line. He was an active supporter of the
Wheat Swamp Christian Church. His former
homeplace and his cemetery are on Lenoir
County RR 1 540. The house which burned in
the 1960s, is pictured in "The History of
Greene County" by James Creech. His wife
was Elizabeth Creech, daughter of Ezekiel
Creech.

William White's youngest daughter, Eliza
Ellen White who lived on the southern por-
tion of the 1 87 1 tract with her father, married
James Franklin Rouse, son of Jesse Hardee
Rouse and wife, Elizabeth Jane Kennedy
Rouse.

Revolutionary War ancestors of this family
included Captain John Kennedy, Ezekiel
Creech, and Major Croom Sr.

Troy Rouse, son of James Franklin and Eli-
za White Rouse, married Nellie Dawson,
daughter of Alex Thomas Dawson and his

wife, Trumilla Nethercut, and their first child
was Frank.

James Franklin Rouse, his son Troy, and
their wives were very active in the Wheat
Swamp Christian Church and Frank Rouse
also had his membership there. His wife, Sue,
daughter of Charles and Mildred Hill John-
son, and their three sons, James Franklin
Rouse, Herbert Lee Rouse, and Charles Mab-
son LaRoque Rouse, are members of Gordon
Street Christian Church.

In addition to the crops of cotton, corn,
tobacco, soybeans and wheat, sheep and cat-
tle have been raised on this farm. Involved in
Lenoir County livestock activities, Frank
Rouse also served as president of the North
Carolina Angus Association in 1 963 and as a
director in 1962, 1963 and 1964. The farm
was designated a tree farm during the late
1950s.

Of interest to the family have been the fos-
sils found on their place. The shark's teeth
and the whale's vertebrae were identified by
the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sci-
ences as belonging to the Miocene period, one
of those periods when this farm was under the
sea.

Frank Rouse continues to operate the farm
honored as a North Carolina century farm in
1975, 1980, and 1986. Submitted by Sue Rouse

THE TAYLOR FARM

Since the year 1880 five generations of
Taylors have been landowners and farmers in
the northern part of Lenoir County. David W.
Taylor, born in 1849, lived with his father
near the farm, he, David W. Taylor purchased
in 1880 from a neighbor, William H.
Edwards.

Susan Jackson Taylor, wife of David W. Taylor, and
Ruth Taylor Newton, daughter of David W. Taylor.

The farm, which is located on the north side
of Lousin Swamp, had 1 50 acres when he pur-
chased it. David and his family moved to this
farm in 1880, and some of his heirs are still
living and farming it.

In 1900 David W. Taylor purchased from
Alice M. Watson, 76 acres of land, that
adjoined the above mentioned farm. David
W. Taylor's farming consisted of cotton, live-
stock and corn. Tobacco was first planted on
this farm in 1 895. Very little was known about
tobacco production in Lenoir County, so
some people from the Old Belt were hired to
teach farmers in Lenoir County how to grow
tobacco. Some of the heirs of these people,
who moved to Lenoir County in the early
1 900s are still living here.

In 1 925 David W. Taylor died, leaving his
farm in his will, to his three sons and one

140

daughter. Their names were Paul, Reid Hen-
ry, William Ralph and Ruth.

Paul Taylor sold his share to his brother,
William Ralph Taylor in 1937.

In 1940 William Ralph Taylor purchased
from Mr. W.T. Moseley's heirs, 75 acres of
land which adjoined the land that William
Ralph Taylor had inherited from his father,
David W. Taylor.

In 1 943 Ruth Taylor Newton died, and her
farm was left to a daughter, Eloise N. Forrest
and two sons, James and John H. Newton.
Eloise later purchased her two brothers'
shares in their mother's (Ruth) farm.

In 1970 Eloise N. Forrest sold her farm to
W. Ralph Taylor, Jr., son of William Ralph
Taylor, Sr.

The portion of land that David W. Taylor
willed to his son, Reid Henry Taylor, now
belongs to his son, Robert David Taylor.

William Ralph Taylor, Sr. and his brother
Reid Henry Taylor were both World War I
Veterans serving in the navy and army respec-
tively. The two brothers operated the farm
using equipment which was considered mod-
ern at the time consisting of tractors, power-
driven hay balers, cotton gins and other such
equipment until their retirement.

In 1977 William Ralph Taylor, Sr. died,
and his 217 acres were divided among his
three heirs which consisted of one son, Wil-
liam Ralph Taylor, Jr., and two daughters,
Edna Taylor Gower and Jean Taylor Robert-
son. Jean Taylor Robertson still owns her
share of the farm, but Edna Taylor Gower
sold her share in 1 984 to Ralph Fleming Tay-
lor, son of William Ralph Taylor, Jr.

The original 1 50 acres of the David W. Tay-
lor farm is still owned and operated by Wil-
liam Ralph Taylor, Jr. and his son Ralph
Fleming Taylor.

Submitted by W. Ralph Taylor, Jr.

THE TYNDALL FARM

In 1840 my great-grandfather, James Tin-
dal purchased a tract of woodland from his
neighbor, Richard Noble for one dollar per
acre. I have this deed in my possession. The
last name of Tyndall was spelled three differ-
ent ways in it.

Home of James "Jim" Tyndall and wife, Winnifred
built around 1845. L to R: Andrew Herman Tyndall,
John Tyndall, Oscar Tyndall, Polly Howard Tyn-
dall, and Andrew Jackson Tyndall.

He cleared part of this tract and farmed it
for his living. He was married to Winifred
Davis and they had nine children (seven girls
and two sons). He died and left the farm to his
two sons, A.J. and Henderson. He left his
daughters equal amounts of money each.

Andrew Jackson or A.J. was my grandfa-
ther and he inherited the original house on his

Lenoir — Lincoln

half of the farm. He raised nine children, also.
Around the turn of the century, he remodeled
the house, putting a chimney at each end and
two more bedrooms across the back. Also the
log kitchen was replaced with a frame one. All
this work was done by A.J. and his oldest son,
Oscar. They were both good carpenters and
farmers.

My father, the youngest of the nine, inherit-
ed his father's farm, but grandfather had
worked out and paid for eight other farms, so
each child was given equal size farms. A.J.
Tyndall was a good manager as this shows,
and very respected.

I moved this 1840 house to Pink Hill and
restored it in 1972. It is open to the public and
so is our old farm equipment museum, called
the "Wilbur A. Tyndall Museum."

Submitted by Wilbur A. Tyndall

THE WALLER FARM

The farm owned by Oscar Wilson Waller
became Waller land in the 1830s. The land is
approximately seven miles south of Kinston
and is bordered by Southwest Creek and the
approximate intersection of U.S. Highway
258 Sand County Road 1141. It is in the heart
of the Woodington Community.

Records indicate the land was settled in the
1 830s by Joseph Waller (great-grandfather of
the present owner). The land had previously
been part of the vast land holdings of Richard
Caswell, first governor of North Carolina.
Caswell experienced financial difficulties and
his plantation of over 1000 acres, known as
Woodington, was obtained by others, includ-
ing the partial settled on by Joseph Waller.
The land originally was occupied by the Neu-
siok Indians a part of the Tuscarora Nation.

Ownership was passed to Joseph Waller's
son, Haywood, in 1884. During the mid-
1800s through 1900, income was derived
from corn, tobacco and turpentine farming.

Millard Filmore Waller, Sr., son of Hay-
wood Waller, became record owner in 1901.
He diversified his farming operation with the
addition of a "country store," gristmill, lum-
ber mill and cotton gin. During this time a
railroad operated in the area. Millard died in
1926 leaving his widow, Lottie, with eight
children to raise, 22 tenant families to care for
and vast landholdings. The bank failure in
1929 caused serious financial problems for
Lottie G. Waller; however, she was able to
continue ownership of the Waller land and
actually acquired additional land prior to her
death in 1953.

During the quarter century that this widow,
at the age of 44, became responsible for main-
taining the Waller family land, she endured
the "depression of 29"; and seeing five sons
be called to duty in World War II, her youn-
gest not to return, the heritage values she had,
together with hard work and determination
caused the Waller land to be intact today.

The farm was inherited by Oscar Wilson
Waller, a minor, in 1926 and is owned and
lived on today by him and his wife, Billie.
Oscar farmed corn, cotton and tobacco. He
still has his last bale of cotton produced in
1950, which he has held in remembrance of
how hard cotton farming was and how little
money was made. Oscar also operated the
"country store" and had a sizeable herd of
beef cattle.

The Waller name which is 920 years old
and the Waller land in Woodington Town-
ship of Lenoir County which has been in the
family about 150 years, will both live long
into the future. Submitted by Oscar W. Waller

Lincoln County

THE BAXTER FARM

The Baxter and Hull families, along with
another dozen or so families of British and
German descent, settled the North Brook sec-
tion of western Lincoln County in the late
1 700s. Early settlement of the area began in
the 1740s, but it was during the 1780s and
1 790s that the major influx of settlers arrived.

Pasture scene from Larry B. and Phyllis Adkins Bax-
ter's farm.

Peter Baxter and Benjamin Hull both
arrived in this area in the 1790s. Parts of the
present Baxter farm came from the property
acquired by Benjamin Franklin Hull, grand-
son of the original settler, between 1 847 and

Waller Brothers Mill near Kinston, N.C.

141

Lincoln

1855, and in the same community as his
grandfather's land and adjacent to the origi-
nal Peter Baxter lands.

Before entering the Civil War in 1 863, Ben-
jamin Franklin Hull made his will designating
the tracts of land to go to each of his seven
children. He subsequently was killed at
Orange Courthouse, Virginia in 1864 and a
part of his property was passed to his daugh-
ter, Margaret Amanda, who later married
Francis Asbury Boyles. In 1924 this part of
the Boyles property was transferred to their
first grandchild, Ben Franklin Baxter, son of
their oldest child, Sarah Georganna (Sallie)
and her husband, John Henry Logan Baxter,
great-great-grandson of Peter Baxter. In 1928
Ben Franklin Baxter bought another of the
Hull estate tracts from his cousin Walter Hull,
and Larry Ben Baxter, son of Ben Franklin
Baxter, bought yet another of the Hull tracts
from his cousin, W.A. (Willie) Hull in 1959.

The present Baxter farm, owned by Larry
Ben and Phyllis Adkins Baxter and operated
as Circle B Farms since 1954, has over the
years been a general cotton and small grain
farm and is now devoted entirely to the pro-
duction of purebred Polled Hereford cattle.
Other adjacent tracts of the original Benjamin
Franklin Hull farm are still owned by other
members of the Baxter and Hull families.

Submitted by Larry B. Baxter

THE CARPENTER FARM

Since 1767 seven generations of Carpen-
ters have been farming the land. From field
crops consisting of wheat and corn, to cotton
and soybeans, and to the dairying operation
today, the land has been used and passed
down through the years.

An early Carpenter family photo.

In 1 767 Jacob Carpenter urged his brother
Peter, a blacksmith, to move to North Caroli-
na from Pennsylvania. Peter and Jacob
farmed corn and wheat and other grain crops
on Peter's 1350 acres of land in Rutherford
and Lincoln Counties. Peter's homeplace
consisted of 342 acres of land along Indian
Creek in Lincoln County south of Lincolnton.

A captain during the Revolutionary War,
Peter defended his home against the Chero-
kee Indians. He fought on the Tory side at the
Battle of Ramsour's Mill. Peter's regiment
was beaten and he remained neutral through-
out the remainder of the war.

Peter deeded his land to his two sons, Wil-
liam and Samuel. William later sold a portion
of the original homeplace to R.G. Rutledge.
This is presently owned by the Arrowood
family.

Samuel acquired additional land and was
buried with his father in the Big Gullies Cem-
etery. This is located on the present day farm
land.

Michael, Samuel's son. then received the
land and operated the farm. He served as a
captain in the Mexican War. Michael is bur-
ied on land owned by his descendants.

Michael's son, John F., resided on the same
homestead. John F. served in the Civil War.
He supposedly swam the Tennessee River to
escape the Union Army. Thus his nickname
became Tennessee John.

John built a house in 1 879 which still stands
on the homeplace land.

John Edward, Sr. and John Edward, Jr.
were the next two operators.

Hal L., the second son of John E., Jr.,
farmed, with his father, corn, wheat and cot-
ton until 1 948 when John E. sold milk to Car-
nation. John and Hal began selling Grade A
milk in 1 966. John died in 1 982, but Hal con-
tinued the dairy business. His main crops
include corn, sorghum, barley and soybeans.
Hal presently owns 80 cows and farms 300
acres. Submitted by Hal Carpenter

THE CLINE FARM

My farms are in Lincoln and Catawba
counties. The Lincoln County farm was the
homeplace of my maternal grandfather, Bur-
ton C. Wood, who was a long time register of
deeds of Lincoln County and other public
offices. It is located in Howard's Creek Town-
ship and has 1 50 acres. It is now owned by my
wife and myself.

The Catawba County tract is located in
Bandy's Township of Catawba County. It was
the homeplace of my maternal grandmother,
Emma Hudson Wood, as well as her father,
J.F. Hudson. It is now owned by my wife and
myself and is used as a tree farm.

Submitted by John K. Cline

THE HEAFNER FARM

Heafners have been farming along Rock-
dam Creek in western Lincoln County since

George W. Heafner in front of the Heafner home-

the 1750s. George Washington Heafner, a
great-grandson of the original settler, pur-
chased and cleared two adjacent tracts of land
in 1 874 near the original Heafner settlement.
On this 230 acre farm, he finished building a
large house in 1877, patterned after one he
admired on his walk home from the surrender
at Appomattox. The house, barn, granary,
smokehouse and log corn crib, all morticed
with wooden pegs, are still being used. A car-
penter by trade, George also had a blacksmith
shop. In the 1 880s he purchased two tracts of
bottomland along Leonard's Fork of Indian
Creek.

In 1908 CM., the youngest of the seven
children, bought 1 12.5 acres from his father,
including the house and outbuildings. He and
his wife farmed and reared ten children.
George lived with C.M.'s family until his
death at age 95 in 1 927. The remainder of the
property was sold.

CM. and his family worked hard growing
mostly cotton, and saved for college educa-
tions for the children. But with the depres-
sion, they lost their savings in a local bank. In
spite of this hardship all ten children became
college graduates, entering the teaching, nurs-
ing and business professions. Four sons and
one daughter were in World War II.

C.M.'s second son, Banks, helped his par-
ents run the farm after the war. From 1 952 to
1 962 he had a Grade A dairy, selling milk to
Coble Dairy. Then he turned from dairy to
beef cattle. When his parents died, he inherit-
ed the farm. Presently, he has pasture and
makes hay for his more than 30 head of cattle.

Only time will tell if Banks' son and daugh-
ter will continue the family's farming tradi-
tion. Submitted by Banks S. Heafner

THE HOVIS FARM

Jacob Rhyne got a land grant in 1787 for
this land. We have the original grant. His
daughter, Sarah Catherine Rhyne married
Rev. John Hovis. We presume Rev. John
Hovis and wife Catherine inherited the land
and it is said Jacob and wife are buried in the
Hovis cemetery and since John Hovis and
wife owned the land it is called Hovis ceme-
tery. It is still in the Hovis family.

L.J. Hovis and wife Margaret are owners
now. We inherited it from Charlie Soloman
and Susan Hovis. Aunt Susan owned half the
land and Charlie owned the other half by tak-
ing care of the above. We have one son, Eddie
and he has three sons. Mike, the oldest, lives
close to us in a trailer and the other two will
probably live on the land also; so we hope it
will be in the family for years. It is said Jacob
Rine willed his wife 100 pounds hard money
gold and silver. The story goes during the Civ-
il War, the Hovis' had a slave named Nelson
and they had him hide a pot of gold and he
died that night and they never knew where it
was hid. The house the first Hovis' lived in
was over on the old place close to the Hovis
graveyard and was later moved over on the
part where we are now living. We are sorry we
didn't restore it.

Michael Rufus Hovis married Nancy
Cline. This is L.J. grandfather Solomon
Hovis was L.J. great-grandfather. His great-
great-grandfather John Hovis all were raised
on this farm. We have a Bob Hovis who lives
in Mt. Shasta, California doing a book on the
Hovis'. In fact it is just about finished. We

142

Lincoln

?! >■

The old house that was used

erected a monument for the pioneer George
Hovis, Sr. and their children and a Rhyne
man from Ward, Oklahoma has a plaque con-
cerning the pioneer Rhyne family. We are
now 76 years old and not farming too much.
We have 1 5 head of cattle and do vegetables
for a farmer's market. At one time there were
600 acres, but we own 83 acres now. Hoping
to add more later. Submitted by Mrs. L.J. Hovis

THE KILLIAN FARM

It was in 1732 that the pioneer family of
Andreas Killian arrived in Philadelphia from
the Rhenish Palatinate area of Germany. By
1 734 the family had migrated to North Caro-
lina. Seventy-six years later, 1810, a son,
Ephraim was born to David Killian, a grand-
son of Andreas. By this time a large number of
Killian descendants had settled in what is
now Catawba County.

by all generations of Hovises.

There are four large rooms in this part of the
house (two down and two upstairs). There is
a large hall between the rooms with the stairs
leading to the two upper rooms from the lower
hall. There is a one-story ell on the back hous-
ing the kitchen and dining room. A narrow
porch extended on the north side of these two
rooms. In the middle 1 920s this narrow porch
was enlarged in width and screened in. Later,
windows replaced the screens. Actually, the
house is very much as it was when construct-
ed.

The house has remained in the Killian fam-
ily, having been willed to Amzi's son, David,
then to David's son Frank. Frank has deeded
the property to his daughter, Jane Killian
Conner, who is the present owner. Jane's hus-
band and son farm the land.

With the exception of Amzi's youngest son,
Edwin, who died as a youth, the remaining
children, except David, married and estab-
lished homes elsewhere. David took care of
his parents, farmed the land and was a rural
mail carrier on one of the routes out of the
Lincolnton post office. Because of an accident
to his mother resulting in a broken hip, David
gave up the job as a regular carrier to be the
substitute, therefore, giving him more time at
home. David married Bessie Era Lantz who
helped care for his parents and helped with
the farm work. They raised four children all of
who have college degrees.

Since the death of David Killian in 1 976 the
farmhouse has been rented to several differ-
ent families.

Submitted by Mrs. Jane Killian Conner

The Killian farmhouse.

Ephraim's son, Amzi Adolphus, married
Barbara Elizabeth Coon in 1873 and estab-
lished a home in Lincoln County. On the 25th
of September, 1874, Amzi bought a tract of
land in the Daniels Community containing
60 acres, two and one third poles from Caleb
and Emaline A. Motz. Over a period of time
small tracts were purchased to increase the
acreage to 73 acres.

The original house was of logs. The number
of rooms it contained is not known. Ladder-
like steps, located in the back center of the
main structure, led to the loft where the older
sons of Amzi slept. Today this building is used
for storing farm machinery and farm tools.

Eventually, a new home was built in 1888.
The house is a two-story frame structure.

THE LANTZ FARM

The first Lantz to settle in Lincoln County
in 1 787 was Hans George whose farmer father

The Lantz farm in Lincolnton, N.C.

had come from Germany to Berks County,
Pennsylvania. George purchased land west of
the South Fork of the Catawba River along
Potts Creek near the Lincoln-Catawba Coun-
ty line. An original 1 787 deed still in the fami-
ly's possession states that he paid "two hun-
dred pounds-good and lawful money" for a
tract of land on August 1 1 of that year.

One of his sons, Jacob, continued to farm
the land until his death in 1849. Succeeding
Jacob was a son also named Jacob. This Jacob
and wife, Linnie, moved from a log house to
their new two-story wooden frame house in
1858. This same house has provided a home
for four generations of Lantzs. During the
Civil War Jacob served in the Confederate
Army, was captured at Gettysburg, and died
in prison at Point Lookout. His widow and
son, John Franklin, operated the farm, by this
time reduced to less than half its 400 acre size
due to financial losses resulting from the war.

Among the crops grown by John Franklin
were wheat, oats, barley, corn, cane, clover
and cotton. He also grew upland chaff rice
and won a bronze medal for his "good quality
and fine arrangement" rice exhibit in the
1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chi-
cago.

After John's death in 1928 his son, Coy
Franklin, farmed the land. By using the latest
farming practices of his time, Coy was able to
support his wife, Daisy, and four children.
During a severe July 1936 thunderstorm,
lightning struck and burned the original
wooden log barn. Neighbors helped with the
barn raising to replace the lost building. In the
early 1950s he upgraded his dairy business
into a Grade A operation. Coy died in 1969.

For twenty years Mrs. Coy Lantz has man-
aged the 1 63 acre farm which is being used to
grow silage crops to support a herd of dairy
cows. It was the desire of Coy Franklin that
his farm remain in the Lantz family.

Submitted by John Lantz

THE REEP FARM

The Reep brothers dairy farm is located on
the headwaters of Leonards Fork Creek in
Howards Creek Township of Lincoln County,
seven miles west of Lincolnton. The paved
county road number 1 140 from N.C. High-
way 27 to Flay cuts through the farm. The
farm, containing 200 acres, was bought by
Adolph Reep in 1795 from Michael Buff.

Half of the land, known as the Jonas Reep
farm, has been continuously owned and
farmed to this day by Adolph's direct descen-
dants. The other half, known as the John Reep
farm, was owned by Ed Grigg for 45 years
before it was bought in 1 964 by the dairy far-
mer brothers Ervin Reep and Dean Reep who
at the time reconnected the original 200 acres.

A father-to-son succession of a major por-
tion of the original farm from 1795 to the
present time has been; Adolph Reep to his
sons Jonas and John Reep in 1844; from
Jonas to his son Logan Jacob Reep in 1889;
from Logan Jacob to his son Luther Jones
Reep in 1930; and from Luther Jones to his
son, Harold Ervin Reep in 1971.

The original homestead and the present
dairy barn are located on the Jonas Reep
place.

Mrs. Luther Jones Reep, age 84, still lives at
the Adolph Reep homeplace. Harold Ervin
Reep's widow, Nevert, lives nearby, also on

143

Lincoln — Macon

The Reep family, taken in 1900. — L to R: The Lmgerfelt brothers, Alba Reep, Charlie Reep, Alice Reep,
Jones Reep, Clarence Reep, Logan Jacob Reep and Mefinda Reep. The farmhouse was standing until 1947.

the Jonas Reep place and Dean Reep lives on
the John Reep place. Submitted by Harold
Ervin Reep, Jacob E. Reep, and Huitt Reep

THE WARLICK FARM

With its full array of outbuildings and cen-
ter hall plan frame house, the David C. Warl-
ick farmstead is one of the most complete rep-
resentatives of early farm life still standing in
Lincoln County. Warlick (1848-1935) estab-
lished his farm on a small portion of the 5 1 00
acres his great-great-grandfather, Daniel
Warlick, had received as a royal land grant in
1749. His great-grandson, William R. Warl-
ick, Sr., is the eighth generation of Warlicks to
own and farm the property, approximately
200 acres of which is the last of the land grant
to remain in the family. His son, William
Warlick, Jr. will carry on the tradition.

grandfather, Thomas and father, Robert,
both deceased, in tending the homestead, also
being a Grade A dairy farm from 1952-1 962,
with a registered Jersey herd. William farmed
part-time and taught school 1 8 years, retiring
in 1973, to farm full-time. At present, the
Warlick farm raises beef cows and produces
forage for the herd.

William and wife, Betty, have two sons,
William Jr. and Thomas. Thomas married
and moved away; William Jr. lives at home.
Their home is built on the farmstead and they
are carefully restoring the David Warlick
house. The Warlicks have been here 240 years
on this land and hope the tradition continues.

Submitted by William R. Warlick

THE WOOD FARM

The Warlick house in Lincolnton, N.C.

More than 1 5 frame outbuildings are infor-
mally arranged to the rear of the farmhouse.
Closest to the house are the well house,
smokehouse and engine room for the Delco
electric light system which served prior to
rural electrification. Behind are a shop, buggy
house, bull house, hog pen, milk barn, cow
barn and grainery, plus sheds, silos and chick-
en houses. Attached to the cow barn (signed
1878) is one of only two wooden silos left
standing in Lincoln County.

William Warlick, Sr. was born and raised in
the David Warlick farmhouse. He assisted his

This farm consists of Sullivan land which
has been handed down through generations to
Craig Wood, whose mother was Marguerite
Sullivan, who married Burton H. Wood.

Sullivan tombstones.

In 1874 Thomas Saltar of Philadelphia,
through love and affection for James Sullivan
and wife, Mary Cox Sullivan, deeded land to
them. Mary Cox was a half sister to Thomas
Saltar. Family tradition has it that Mary
Cox's mother was a Morris, sister of Robert
Morris, a signer of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence.

James Sullivan was a soldier in the Revolu-
tionary War and was granted additional lands
by the state of North Carolina.

Of the original several hundred acres of
land owned by James Sullivan, Craig and
Dolores Wood own 197 acres.

James Sullivan and Mary Cox Sullivan are
buried on the farm and the inscription on
their tombstones are still clearly legible.

Submitted by Craig and Dolores Wood

Macon County

THE BRADLEY FARM

All that remains of the original home of
William J. and Deborah Roberts Bradley is
the outer shell of grey, aged lumber and origi-
nal chimney stone — more than 150 years
old. However, the heart of the land upon
which William and Deborah settled and
where the "old homeplace" still stands
remains as a monument to a pioneer family.

The remains of the original home of William J. and
Deborah Roberts Bradley.

William J. Bradley was born in Ashe Coun-
ty on May 22, 1 823. Seeking employment, the
young man journeyed to Pigeon Forge, Ten-
nessee, where he met and married Deborah
Roberts. Their search for farmland led them
back across the Great Smokies, where they
settled in Occonolufftee Community near
Cherokee. (This area later became a part of
the Smokey Mountain National Park)

With a growing family to plan for, William
and Deborah decided to move to a more "set-
tled" community. In the mid 1860s they
"swapped" their Occonolufftee property for
several hundred acres of land and the home
owned by the Conner family in the northern
end of Macon County in what is known as the
Oak Grove Community. A small creek ran
through the property, which quickly became
known as, and still remains, "Bradley Creek."
As William and Deborah's children matured
and married, the original acreage was divided
among them. The remaining homeplace
eventually consisted of approximately 100
acres it still occupies.

William J. Bradley died on December 31,
1887. Deborah lived on until May 3, 1910,
spending her widowhood with their children.
Most of her time was spent at the old home-
place with her son, the Rev. William (Bill)
Bradley and his wife, Narcissa Ann Shuler
Bradley. Rev. Bradley was very active in the
Baptist Association and pastored many
churches throughout Macon, Jackson and
Swain Counties. After the death of Deborah,
Rev. Bradley inherited the homeplace. He
lived there until his death in 1945. After his

144

Macon

death, the property went to his heirs and was
later purchased from them by his grandson,
Floyd Bradley (son of Joseph Hillard and Hal-
lie Myrtle Welch Bradley).

Floyd Bradley (1917-1984) was married to
Bonnie Higdon of Macon County. Floyd was
involved in custom excavation and logging,
but he and Bonnie still maintained the farm.
They concentrated on cattle farming, with
some acreage for crops. After Floyd's death in
September 1984, Bonnie and one of their
sons, William Kelly, continue to live on the
land in the modern home of Floyd and Bonnie
built in 1958. Their other two sons, Floyd
Argle and James Dale, live close by and con-
tinued with the cattle farming and upkeep
required to maintain their heritage. Argle,
Dale, Kelly and their mother intend to see
that the "Bradley Farm" on Bradley Creek
will remain in the family for future genera-
tions. They are proud of their great-
grandparents, William J. and Deborah Rob-
erts Bradley, and their descendants who made
it possible for the present generations to call
this land "home."

Submitted by Bonnie Higdon Bradley

THE BRYSON FARM

Macon County was seven years old when
Samuel Decater Bryson purchased property,
May 2, 1836 through land grant at a cost of $5
per 1 00 acres. It is not known how long he was
here prior to that, since Cowee Baptist
Church records state he gave property for the
first church to be built in 1 830. They lived in
a log home in Cowee Community on a hill six
miles north of Franklin on the north side of
the Little Tennessee River.

A son, Samuel Byers Bryson, and wife,
Mary Morrison Bryson bought property on
October 5, 1868 from the Samuel Decater
Bryson heirs. Their home was a two-story
wood frame building which was destroyed by
fire February 14, 1924. My father, Robert
Taylor, the youngest of ten children, and Ila
Gibson Bryson lived there at the time. The
property had been divided August 7, 1896.
Sixty years later, the wood frame home with a
big front porch that he built was destroyed by
fire. Pine logs with holes drilled in them were
used to supply water to the spring house from
the spring located several hundred feet away.

Robert L. and Mattie Pearl Bryson
McGaha purchased the heirs interest of Rob-
ert T. Bryson on August 2, 1967. R.L. retired
after 27 years in the U.S. Army. In 1977 they
built a brick home with a panoramic view of
the beautiful mountains. Over the years the
land produced wheat, tobacco, corn and hay.
Crops were cultivated with the help of oxen,
horses, mules and at the present time with a
tractor. Cattle now graze the hillsides. A
bountiful garden to share and corn had been
produced over 1 50 years.

Submitted by Mattie Pearl Bryson McGaha

THE CALLOWAY FARM

On September 10, 1884 Nathaniel Hen-
derson Parrish registered a land deed at
Macon County courthouse for a 52 acre farm,
located on Highway 28 about two miles north
of Franklin. Purchased from William E.
McDowell at a cost of $600, the property
included a two-story, oak-hewn log structure,
already rumored to be 75 to 100 years old. He

The Calloways in front of their home in 1916 or 1917
— Front row, L to R: Van, Julia holding Isabel, Jube
holding Virginia and Lilv. Back row, L to R: Wade,
Henderson and Janet. Their dog. Jack, is in the low-
er left corner.

A view of Cowee Mt., Cowee Baptist Church, old Cowee school, the present school and the country store. Tak-
en from the hilltop where R.L. and Mattie Pearl Bryson McGaha live.

was a thrifty, conservative homemaker, who
made virtually all of our clothes on her white
treadle sewing machine. She quilted, hooked
rugs, crocheted, knitted, tatted, spun, cooked,
kept boarders and read daily The Asheville
Citizen and the Bible. She died on August 26,
1963 at age 88.

In 1971 the old home was torn down and
replaced by a one and one-half story brick
house on the same site. Wishing to save the
logs from the original structure, I had a log
cabin built nearby, into which I put several
pieces of old furniture and household items to
preserve the family heritage. Although the
barn, shop and smokehouse were torn down,
the rest of the old buildings have been main-
tained.

On July 9, 1988 my brother, Henderson,
age 86, died of cancer, leaving me at age 82 the
sole survivor of the immediate family. Our
sister Isabel (age 7) died of measles on Febru-
ary 1 4, 1 924; brother Van (21) was killed in a
car wreck in New York in 1931; Virginia,
Wade, and Janet died in 1961, 1967, and
1977, respectively.

I still own and live on the original farm.
This property has been willed to my three
children: Julia Moody Britt of Charlotte;
Marjone Moody Menefee of Ft. Lauderdale,
Florida; and Charles Truman Moody. Jr. of
Los Angeles, California, in the hopes that they
will continue to preserve the homestead.

Submitted by Lily Calloway Moody Cabe

THE CRAWFORD FARM

George W. Crawford, Jr. came to what is
now Macon County in 1 826 and settled in the
Cartoogechaye section. He purchased 97.5
acres for $400 from his future father-in-law,
John Moore. A two-story log house was built

and his wife, the former Sarah Jane Vanhook
enclosed the log structure with weatherboard-
ing and added rooms to make a large, two-
story house.

In 1 894 after grandma Parrish died, grand-
pa Parrish deeded the farm to his three daugh-
ters — Julia Emmaline Parrish, Pallie P. West
and Carrie P. Lyle. My mother, Julia, was giv-
en the portion of property on which the house
was located. On March 6, 1895 she married
Jubal Early Calloway. They bought Aunt Car-
rie Lyle's share in 1896 and Aunt Pallie
West's in 1898, thereby owning, living on,
and farming the entire tract. They had ten
children, all born in the original enclosed part
of the log house, and although three died in
infancy, seven were reared on this homeplace.

For that day and age my father, "Jube" Cal-
loway, ran an up-to-date, self-sufficient farm,
including blacksmith shop, smokehouse,
grainery, huge log barn, garage, spring house,
bee hives, chicken house, hog pen. Concord
grape vines and pastureland. He had the latest
equipment: threshing machine, wheat drill,
corn planter, evaporator (for making molas-
ses), cider mill, hay rake, grindstone, forge,
bellows and various tools. For transportation,
there was a horse or mule-drawn wagon, a sur-
rey and a buggy.

In 1915 papa bought a piano for $325 and
two years later a Model T Ford for $399.25.
Over the years many modern conveniences
were added to the house and the farm. When
he died on October 21,1 948, at age 8 1 , farm-
ing ceased except for the vegetable garden,
which my mother continued to tend. Mama

The Crawford homeplace.

beside a clear, cold spring with a grand view of
Wayah Bald and surrounding mountains.
Through land grants and by purchasing other
tracts, George added to his holdings.

A farmer throughout his long life of 94
years, George had a keen interest in the apple
culture, bringing in the best varieties. The
rich fertile fields lying along the Wayah Creek
were used for raising corn, wheat, oats and
other crops. The acreage high in the moun-
tains was used in the summer for grazing cat-
tle, sheep and hogs.

Leonidus (Lont), the youngest son and 1 6th
child, bought the land containing the dwelling
house from George in 1877. He enlarged the
house which stood until 1 972. Lont increased
his farm through purchasing tracts and by a
land grant. This farm of 280 acres is the Craw-
ford century farm.

Lont's sons, Laddie and Gene, raised sever-
al hundred hens and sold the hatching eggs to
the Farmer's Federation during the 1 940s. At
this time they also began a dairy which operat-
ed until 1959.

From 1902-1921, the Crawford School, a
two-room public school, was located on the
farm. Many walking trails from different
farms led to this school.

The Wayah Creek which runs through the
center of the farm makes a "turn hole" which
was used as the community "swimming
hole." Shaded by rhododendron, mountain
laurel, fragrant white azaleas and ferns, this
section has remained unchanged.

The timber on the mountain acreage has
been protected over the years.

Today Lonnie, Lont's grandson, uses the
land for grazing cattle and for hay production.
Four of Lont's sons and five grandchildren
have homes on this farm. Submitted by Eugene
Crawford and Elmer Crawford

THE ENLOE FARM

The Enloe farm on Wayah Road on Car-
toogechaye Creek in Macon County has been
in the family ownership for five generations,
and a sixth generation of grandchildren lives
there today. Ownership began in the early
1800s when Joseph Conley (the great-great-
grandfather of present owners) moved to
Macon County with his First wife, Harriet
Gibbs Conley, and obtained a land grant: the
360 acre Enloe farm today. Joseph had been
born in 1 807 in Burke County. He and Harri-
et had six children, one of whom, Elizabeth
Ann Conley married John Hester in 1873.
They became the owners then and farmed the
land until John Hester's death in 1910. Then
their daughter Jessie, who was born on the
farm in 1879, returned to the farm with her

Jeff Enloe and family in front of their home in 1914.

Macon

husband, Jeff H. Enloe, to care for Jessie's
mother until her death in 1 925. Jeff and Jessie
owned the farm until their son, Harold Enloe,
became the owner in 1 946.

While Joseph Conley lived, Conley School
was built on the hill across from his home,
probably in the 1 860's. Later when the school
was merged with Crawford school across the
mountain, the log structure was moved to the
Hester backyard to serve as a smokehouse.

While Jeff Enloe ran the farm from 1910 to
1946, he produced most of the food for their
family of six children. He raised livestock to
sell. This included work mules, hogs, and
poultry. He also sold timber and sawed lum-
ber on the farm to build a big barn in the 1 930s
and a new seven bedroom home in 1 940. Also
in the 1 940s, lumber from the farm was used
in building poultry houses for several hun-
dred laying hens and these buildings were lat-
er converted to a dairy operation and hay
storage.

When Jeffs son Harold returned from
army service in 1943, he managed the farm,
becoming owner in 1 946. Harold's sons, Rob-
ert and Charles, became co-owners with Har-
old in 1976.

Harold continued the dairy operation, sell
ing wholesale milk first to Nantahala Cream-
ery, and later to Pet and Sealtest dairies. This
business was sold in 1971. Harold ran a farm
machinery company he had begun in 1951
until 1 965 when he and his son, Robert, began
an asphalt paving business. This paving com-
pany was moved to the farm in 1980, and is
now managed by Bill Enloe, son of Jeff Enloe,
Jr.

Harold Enloe still farms the land with the
help of his son Robert and grandsons Michael
and Stephen. For a good many years, Harold
raised hogs on a modest scale, selling a good
number of them each year. There are also
horses, donkeys and cattle and to feed them
he grows corn, hay and other grain crops.
Corn is also raised for silage to sell to other
cattlemen. Along with the farm responsibili-
ties, Robert is pastor of a local church and is
developing a subdivision for homes. Charles
is a veterinarian and has his practice in the
Franklin area.

There are four Enloe families with homes
on the farm today: Harold, his two sons Rob-
ert and Charles, and Bill Enloe (Jeff Enloe,
Jrs.' son). The Conley-Hester-Enloe farm has
been the scene for six generations of happy
living. Submitted by Roberta Enloe Parker

THE GIBSON FARM

The Gibson family has owned the farm in
Cowee Valley since 1870. George H. Gibson
obtained two tracts by state grant and pur-
chased other tracts for a total of 300 acres.

From 1870 to 1929 the George H. Gibson
Family owned necessary machinery for plant-
ing, harvesting and processing crops of wheat,
corn, cane, honey, fruits and vegetables. They
used a water powered gristmill to grind corn
and used a generator for electricity for two
homes long before the power company fur-
nished rural electricity. Wagon loads of wheat
were taken to the roller mill in Franklin and
ground into flour with plenty for a year's sup-
ply and dividing with neighbors who needed
flour. Cane was ground into juice, boiled into
syrup and strained into containers for sale as
well as home use.

Front row, L to R: George H. Gibson, Minnie Gibson
(daughter), Emma Owens Gibson (wife of George).
Back row, L to R: William R. Gibson, Fred J. Gibson
and Roy C. Gibson (sons).

Most kinds of livestock were raised for mar-
ket as well as home use. Sheep were sheared
annually and wool carded by hand, spun into
thread, colored with natural dyes and woven
into cloth or knitted into sweaters, socks and
caps. A smokehouse was used for curing and
storing meat, with a cellar underneath for
storing fruits, vegetables and canned foods.
Milk and other foods were kept cool with
fresh water running through a trough in the
spring house.

The two-story home was destroyed by fire
in the 1940s and the present home built in
1965.

In 1 929 George H. Gibson and wife, Emma
Owens Gibson, divided the land and made
deeds to their sons, William R. Gibson, Roy
C. Gibson and Fred J. Gibson. In 1 953 Cecile
Gibson, daughter of William R. Gibson, pur-
chased the Roy C. Gibson tract, and in 1966
purchased the other two tracts. Present opera-
tions are limited to cattle raising, growing
hay, corn and home gardens.

Submitted by Cecile Gibson

THE LEATHERMAN FARM

Solomon and Nancy Williams Leatherman
purchased several hundred acres of land on
the head of Huckleberry Creek, Macon Coun-
ty around 1850. This acreage was bought
from the state of North Carolina soon after
"The treaty with the Cherokee Indians" and
from Joseph Shepherd who also bought up
large acreages from the state. They continued
to buy acreage from different parties until
they owned 500 acres total.

To this union three sons were born. The
youngest, Zachariah, inherited the property
and raised his family of 12 children here. A
brother William was killed in the Civil War
and the other brother, Isaac, moved his family
to South Carolina.

146

Zacheriah and Palestine Leatherman

Part of the land was cleared and terraced
with rock walls, like their ancestors did in
Germany, for pasture, fields, and orchards.
They grew corn, oats, rye and wheat to feed
themselves and their animals and apples for
the market. They raised horses, mules, cattle,
sheep, hogs and poultry. Certainly, their big-
gest cash flow was from their apple orchards,
although they had to haul their apples by wag-
on to Wallhalla, South Carolina, and nearest
railhead. A quote from "Our Families" by
Arthur Lee Smiley: "Zachariah Leatherman,
an ardent apple grower, developed upon the
side of Cowee mountain, one of the finest
apple orchards western North Carolina had
ever known at that time."

The property was inherited by two sons,
Solomon and Isaac Dock who continued to
cultivate and pasture the land. In the 1930s
the brothers sold about 300 acres to the Nan-
tahala National Forest.

Around 1945 Solomon's daughter, Annie
Dee Leatherman Smith, inherited Solomon's
share and in 1 980 bought the remaining prop-
erty from the remaining heirs of Isaac Dock.
She and her husband, Walton Ramsey Smith,
now live on the farm.

In 1945 they started planting white pine
and hardwood trees on land where the soil
had eroded. The property is now known as
Waldee Forest where the owners keep bees
that produce sourwood, yellow poplar, and
mountain honey; grow Fraser Fir Christmas
trees also for the market, and where they prac-
tice selective cutting on the hardwood forests.

Seven generations have descended from
the original Leathermans who settled this
land and there is no indication that the land
will change ownership in the future.

Submitted by Annie Dee Leatherman Smith

THE MAY FARM

Our farm in the Nantahala Community is
very remote and mountainous. The commu-
nity is also completely surrounded by the U.S.
Forest Service land. We are in the process of
surveying. We believe the acreage will be
between 100 and 200 acres.

This farm has been the family base for four
generations and produced primarily meat,

Macon

vegetables and food for the families. Some
monetary income came from chestnuts,
herbs, and timber.

Mark May was the first owner and my
great-grandfather. He was born December 7,
1812 in Yadkin County, North Carolina, the
son of Fredrick and Nell May. Mark May was
ordained a Baptist minister around 1 830, and
he served for seventeen years in Yadkin
County. He was also the one and only delegate
from Macon County to sign the Constitution
of North Carolina in 1868 which admitted
North Carolina into the Union.

Samuel Jefferson, the son of Mark, was my
grandfather. Samuel Jefferson attended Pea-
body College in Nashville, Tennessee and
returned to this farm and became a school
teacher, merchant, politician, and promoter
of minerals. Samuel Jefferson May, my
grandfather, raised two sons and five daugh-
ters on the farm. He sent my father to law
school at the University of North Carolina in
Chapel Hill. He passed the bar in 1915. His
name was Tim Ansel May. He only practiced
law until 1919, my birth year. After giving up
law practice, he followed the lumber industry.

After World War II, I repaired and fenced
all of the property and have run cattle. In 1 969
we joined the American Angus Association
and have all registered Angus cows and bull.
We only have an average of 25 head (small
herd). In the year 1 962 I became owner of the
May farm. While running the farm, I man-
aged to work for the N.C. Department of
Motor Vehicles for 36 years and 9 months. I
retired in 1 982 and have more time to devote
to the farm. I have two sons, and one son loves
our farm. Submitted by Jeff W. May

THE NOLEN FARM

The land now owned and farmed by
Charles William Nolen and his son, Charles
Edwin Nolen, was once inhabited by Chero-
kee Indians. Cultivating the soil has surfaced
pieces of broken pottery, pipes, arrowheads
and tomahawks. The farm is approximately
six miles west of Franklin in Macon County in
a community known as Cartoogechaye,
meaning "The Village Beyond."

This is the present home of Charles W. and Glee G.
Nolen. They have lived here since December 19,
1931, and have raised a family of five children here.

In 1822 William Siler came to the area from
his family home in Buncombe County. His
brothers, Jacob and Jesse, had been living on
the site since 1817. Family history reports
that William raised 500 bushels of corn the
first year using the help of Indians in clearing
and preparing the land. He built a house using

logs and hand-sawed planks that was said to
be the first two-story house and the first house
with glass windows in this part of the country.

The 65 acres remaining in the Nolen family
from the original William Siler farm were
owned next by his daughter, Caroline Siler,
and her husband, Horace Nolen. These
Nolens both died young, leaving small chil-
dren to be raised on the property by Caro-
line's sister. Mary Siler, and her husband,
William McKee.

The McKees began farming the land in ear-
nest. Grain crops, such as rye, wheat, and corn
were raised, as were fruits, including apples
and watermelons. These crops were sold in
Franklin, as was his beef and mutton, said to
be of high quality due to a diet of chestnuts
and chinquapins abundant on the land at that
time. He also grew a large garden of cultivated
ginseng, a perennial herb raised for the roots
which were dried and shipped to China for
use in medicines. This valuable plant was
grown in a fenced enclosure with a brush
arbor to provide necessary shade.

One of the Nolen boys raised by the McK-
ees, Frank, married Jennie Moore, a grand-
daughter of the original owner's (William
Siler's) sister, Margaret, Frank and Jennie
lived in a house on the property and opened a
general store. Apples grown in an orchard on
the farm were sold in the store and also
shipped to Atlanta, Georgia, in homemade
wooden crates. One variety was known as
"Bald Mountain," grafted from a tree found
on a nearby mountain named Wayah Bald.
Frank Nolen also raised hogs, selling fresh
meat and cured hams in his store.

Charles William Nolen, oldest son of Frank
and Jennie Nolen, has lived on the farm all his
life. He has used the land to grow wheat, corn,
hogs, turnips, beef cattle and apples. His
orchards grow several varieties including the
"Nolen' apple, grafted from a seedling found
on the property. Always interested in innova-
tive technology, Charles was the first farmer
in the area to own a combine and a tractor
with rubber tires. His home was powered with
electricity generated from a water wheel on
the nearby McKee Creek, long before electric-
ity was available to the community.

Charles Edwin Nolen, oldest son of Charles
and Glee Nolen, also currently lives on the
farm, as does his oldest son, Chuck, the sixth
generation since William Siler. Edwin pres-
ently raises a small herd of beef cattle, mostly
sold as feeder calves. The 1 940 Case tractor is
still used in producing hay and spraying the
apple trees which are now only for family
enjoyment. In recent years the land has been
used to raise sunflowers, green peppers and
Christmas trees for commercial gain. Edwin
and Chuck are electrical contractors, as was
Charles before retirement.

Macon County soil is known for producing
gemstones and the Nolen farm is no excep-
tion. Many family members wear jewelry con-
taining corundum or sapphires found on the
property. Each family also has a clock or other
furniture made by Charles from walnut lum-
ber cut on the land.

The farm has served the Silers and Nolens
abundantly through the years, providing
necessities such as food, water and shelter, as
well as pleasures, including wildlife, gem-
stones and wildflowers.

Submitted by Charles W. Nolen

147

Macon — Madison

THE PATTON FARM

George and Mary Ann McDonell Patton
came from Buncombe to Macon, then Hay-
wood County about 1823. A deed dated
November 1822 notes that George Patton
bought 1 84.5 acres for $276.76 "being part of
the land lately acquired by treaty from the
Cherokee Indians and sold in obedience to an
act of the General Assembly of this state . . ."
On this land George built a two-story log
house and eventually, with land grants and by
buying other tracts of land, he owned most of
the valley. This beautiful tract of land of
approximately one square mile is known
today as Patton Valley. Shaped like a bowl,
the rich fertile land lies on the banks of the
Cartoogechaye Creek.

The Erwin Patton home on Patton farm. Franklin,
N.C.

Andrew Jackson Patton, son of George and
Mary Ann, was a lawyer and farmer.
Andrew's holding of 1 600 acres as listed in the
1 850 census was divided among his children.
Andrew's sons, Erwin, George, Lawrence and
Thad were farmers and livestock traders.
Known as "the Patton brothers" they carried
on an extensive trade in horses, mules and
cattle which they shipped to the markets in
Atlanta, Athens and to the cotton farmers in
southern Georgia.

About 1895 Erwin Patton replaced the log
house of his father and grandfather with a
modern white frame dwelling, now owned by
his grandson, Sam Kelly Greenwood, a fifth
generation member of the family.

When Erwin Patton died in 1919, his wid-
ow, Malva Roane Patton was left with six chil-
dren, ages 6 to 16. With the help of her chil-
dren, especially her sons, Paul and Erwin, she
kept the farm going. It is to her credit that the
Erwin Patton farm is the only parcel of land
acquired originally by George Patton that has
remained in the Patton name since 1822.

Submitted by Nancy Patton Greenwood
and Erwin Patton

THE RABY FARM

The Marcus Asbury Raby homeplace, now
owned by the John F. Raby family, was built
in 1876 and it still stands today as a family
dwelling. The kitchen has hand hewn beams
that are still as they were when the house was
built.

The farm was used to raise corn, wheat,
potatoes, and most everything that was used
at home to feed the family and the livestock.
The farm's location is in Cowee Valley,
Macon County. Mason mountain rises to the

back of it with the valley in front. There is a
creek that goes through the valley with springs
and streams feeding into it. The spring that
always furnished water to the house is still
overflowing today after 1 12 years. There is a
smokehouse near the back door, and up near
a bank of dirt there is a food cellar that is used
to store potatoes and apples and canned food
to keep them from freezing.

Marcus Asbury Raby was the grandfather
of John Fredrick Raby. He was born Septem-
ber 2, 1835, and Narcissa Teresa Shepherd
was born April 16, 1842. They were married
August 16, 1863. To this union were born 12
children. The children lived on the farm until
they were ready to go out on their own. The
land was divided up. The homeplace and
some mountain land, meadow and two gar-
den spots are still maintained. The land has
been cared for with good management. The
ASCS has assisted with tree planting and oth-
er help. Throughout the years, blackberries,
walnuts and firewood have been gathered
from the mountains.

There are three children (two daughters
and one son). The farm will stay in the family.
Submitted by Evelyn M. Raby, Gwendolyn Sue

Raby Mansini, Barbara Jean Raby Nelson, John
Fredrick Raby, III

THE SHEPHERD FARM

On January 18, 1828 Thomas Shepherd Sr.
was given North Carolina land grant number
99 when for $174 he purchased 1 16 acres of
land "being in the county of Haywood, sec-
tion number 22 in district number 1 0, it being
a part of the land lately acquired by treaty
from the Cherokee Indians." Thomas Shep-
herd Sr. had been the fourth white man to set-
tle among the Cherokee Indians in what is
now known as the Cowee Valley in the north-
ern section of Macon County. His first hold-
ings adjoined Cowee Creek and he added to
them until he owned vast acreage in the val-
ley.

In 1842 Thomas Sr. and Nancy Staunton
Shepherd deeded land to Thomas Jr. and Nar-
cissa Welch Shepherd, whose daughter and
son-in-law, James and Emmeline Shepherd
Bryson became landowners in 1856. In 1861
James set a row of small cedars near the
mouth of a cove and in 1863 erected a two-
story house behind them. Near the house were
slave houses and a small dwelling where a
freed slave family lived after the Civil War.

Thomas Clingman and Eva Israel Bryson
later owned the house and land, then their
son, James Carr, and Frances Rickman Bry-
son spent over 50 years of marriage here. Dur-
ing the Great Depression the land provided
all the food for their family and only sugar and
coffee had to be bought. The house, along
with two cedar trees, still stands and is occu-
pied by Frances Bryson.

Part of the land Thomas Shepherd Sr. pur-
chased in 1828 is still owned by his descen-
dants, James H. and Frankabelle Gibson
Scruggs, Ronald H. Bryson, J. Garland and
Sue Bryson Willis and Raymond H. and Betty
Bryson Womack. The land is used for diversi-
fied farming with cattle, hay, corn, tobacco,
sorghum cane and garden crops being grown.

Submitted by Betty B. Womack

Madison County

THE EBBS FARM

My grandfather, Issac Newton Ebbs, was
one of 1 2 children, born in Long Creek, Ten-
nessee — moved to Roaring Fork section of
Madison County early in the 1800s and was
an attorney, farmer, surveyor, and a one-
room-school teacher.

At an early age he surveyed for "The
Gudgers" a very prominent family in western
North Carolina at that time who owned lots of
land and paid my grandfather with parcels of
land.

Grandfather Ebbs found this farm of 210
acres, bought it, and loved it enough to build
a nine room house — reared four boys and
five girls. He also had tenants on the farm.
They raised hogs, cattle, horses, corn, wheat,
and flue-cured tobacco. They also had a saw-
mill.

My grandmother, Iowa Balding Ebbs, died
in 1 898, and Issac Newton died in 1 909. After
his death the farm was leased for a few years.
My father, Edward Boyken Ebbs, who was a
streetcar conductor in Knoxville, Tennessee,
came back to the farm in 1914 — married
Hattie Duckett of Spring Creek — reared
three girls and four boys. My father had his
brother Horace divide the farm into two par-
cels. Dad's was 2 1 acres and Horace's was 75
acres which he later sold.

My father farmed for years. He later built a
general merchandise store below the house.
Then in the early 1930s a new road was built

148

Madison — Martin

A view of the Ebbs farm in Hot Springs, N.C.

so he moved into a new building near the
highway and operated it until his death in
1958. When my husband. Homer Plemmons,
got out of military service in 1 946, we moved
back to the farm and lived with my dad and
mother. Homer loved the farm so much that
we raised cattle, hogs, tobacco, corn and trel-
lis tomatoes until his death in 1 982.

David, our son, is the fourth generation of
the Issac Newton Ebbs. David and his wife,
Cathy, gave me a grandson in September
1986. Daniel James Plemmons is now the
fifth generation.

My greatest desire is that the farm will be
"The Ebbs Farm" for many more years.

Submitted by Mrs. Ruby E. Plemmons

THE STACKHOUSE FARM

Philadelphian Amos Stackhouse had done
much traveling in his lifetime before coming
to Hot Springs at the age of 65.

The Stackhouse home on the French Broad River in
Madison County.

He married three times, but his third wife is
most pertinent to Madison County history.
This third wife was not a healthy woman, so
the family moved from Ohio, where they were
living, to Florida.

Florida brought no improvement to Mrs.
Stackhouse's health and the family came to
Hot Springs (then called Warm Springs), hop-
ing the waters there would aid in returning her
to good health.

The Stackhouses made this trip during the
post Civil War period. Madison County was
very isolated at that time, but not so isolated
that mail did not run. Amos Stackhouse
became postmaster in Warm Springs, just as
he was in Pickway, Ohio.

Stackhouse was a great walker. This is how
in 1 866 he discovered the area that now bears
his name, an area which was the virgin tim-
ber, a total of 620 acres.

Stackhouse hired 25 blacks to clear the tim-
ber, for he had decided to carve a town out of
this forest.

The old Buncombe turnpike ran beside this
property alongside the river and Stackhouse
decided it was a good place to put up a general
store. This general store had two rooms in
which he lived until the first Stackhouse home
was built.

This general store was part of his plan to
carve out a town along the river. He also put
in a sawmill and a train depot.

The first Stackhouse home, which was
located near the present home, burned in the
1920s. This house came complete with a
secret escape passage in case of Indian attack.

The general store flourished with the busi-
ness of drovers who came along the turnpike
with fowl and animals for market. Stackhouse
had three large pens for herds and sold a little
of everything to these drovers.

In 1 880 the railroad came along the path of
the turnpike. The railroad company prom-
ised to build another road but never did.

Stackhouse became a community on the
map. Goods then came by railroad and Amos
Stackhouse was also the postmaster of the
community.

By this time with the sawmill, general store
and the sawmill in Runion (just down the riv-
er) approximately 1,500 people lived in the
area, although approximately 50 lived right at
Stackhouse.

The turn of the century saw even more
change with the addition of the Carolina Bar-
ite Co. in 1904 which mined on the property
for barite, a substance used in oil drillings.
The mines were deep, some reaching 400 feet.

Also at the turn of the century the current
Stackhouse home was built. Taking a carpen-
ter and his helper four years, it was completed
in 1904.

The hillside itself upon which the house
rests took 1 8 years to dig off with shovels and
wheelbarrows.

Amos Stackhouse lived to be 99 years old
but the community he began slowly died. The
general store, depot and mine are gone as well
as the sawmill, which was washed away in the
great flood of 1916.

In Runion the lumber mill closed in 1927,
and with its closing most of the population of
the area left.

What is left now is a beautiful old house on
a hill overlooking the river and a panoramic
view of the county. With that house remains
a history of Madison County that should not
be forgotten. (Taken in part from an article by
Margaret A. Studenc).

Submitted by Gilbert Stackhouse

Martin County

THE CRATT FARM

On record is M.G. Cratt received land in
1882. Then it was deeded to Sophia Cratt in
1920 by death of M.G. Cratt. In 1926 J.M.
Cratt received land at the death of his mother,
Sophia Cratt. J.M. Cratt deeded the land to
Rue M. Cratt in 1940. At Rue M. Cratt's
death in 1 978, King E. Cratt bought the rest of
the children out. In 1987 King E. Cratt died
and it was left by will to his wife, Annie H.
Cratt.

Charlie Grimes Forbes and wife, Harriet Mae
Brown Forbes.

Tobacco, peanuts, corn, beans, cotton were
raised on the farm, along with hogs and cattle.
The same crops are raised today except for
cotton. The house is still standing except for
the kitchen part that was separated from the
rest of the house. Two stick tobacco barns
remain intact. Submitted by Annie H. Cratt

THE GRIMES FARM

The Grimes farm has been in the Grimes
family since 1 797. This spans six generations.
From the beginning they have been very pro-
gressive farmers, producing just about all the
food and fiber used by their families. They
grew hogs, chickens, cows, vegetables, pota-
toes, corn and fruits. Later peanuts, soybeans,
cotton and tobacco were added, and they
became well known for the flue-cured tobacco
that they produced.

Thomas Grimes, who married Chloe Lle-
wellyn in 1761, was the first Grimes to own
this farm. He was born in 1738 to James
Grimes and wife Mary. He had six brothers
and sisters. Mary, one of his sisters, married
General Kidder Meade. Chloe Llewellyn was
born in 1747 to John William Llewellyn and
Frances Llewellyn.

Thomas Grimes inherited the entire plan-
tation that his father owned on the western
branch of the Elizabeth River in Norfolk
County, Virginia. In 1761 he sold it and
moved to Edgecombe County.

Chloe Llewellyn's mother, Frances, sold a
large plantation left to her by her husband,
John, beside the Elizabeth River in Norfolk
County, Virginia. She then took her daughter
Chloe, and son John, (the notorious N.C.
Tory Rebel), and moved to Tyrell County
buying a large plantation there.

In 1774 Martin County was carved out of
Tyrell and Edgecombe Counties. During this
period, Thomas Grimes purchased about
5000 acres in this area. In 1 797 he purchased

149

200 acres from Hugh Ross in the Flatte
Swamp area for $900. Thomas Grimes died
on May 8, 1797. He left to his son, Thomas
Grimes II, this farm with buildings, which
included a dwelling house, and 230 acres of
other farmlands. Thomas Grimes II married
Harriet Curry.

Thomas Grimes II died without a will in
1837. According to Book L. Martin County
register of deeds page 81 and 82, the Martin
County Board of Commissioners ordered his
estate to be settled. They left to his son, Wil-
liam Grimes II, lot #6 and this lot included the
Grimes farm.

William Grimes II was born March 28,
1813, and on January 20, 1 845 married Sarah
(Sally) Rogers. He fought in the Civil War
with the 59th Regiment, N.C. Infantry; died
on November 30, 1 902 without a will. His six
living descendants settled his estate. The farm
as it is now given to Stephen Llewellyn
Grimes, his son.

Stephen Llewellyn Grimes was born on
October 12, 1858 and died on April 2, 1928.
Susan, his wife, died on June 28, 1930. At
their death, the eight living relatives settled
the estate. My mother, Fannie Mae Grimes
Forbes Cherry, a daughter, A. Daniel Cherry,
her husband, and Samuel Harcom Grimes, a
son, received the Grimes farm.

After the death of my step-father in 1959,
my mother in 1971, and Samuel Harcom
Grimes in 1985, I purchased one-half of the
farm from the heirs of Samuel Harcom
Grimes and two-twelfths from A. Daniel
Cherry's heirs. I acquired one-twelfth from A.
Daniel Cherry's will, and one-fourth from the
will of my mother, Fannie Mae Grimes For-
bes Cherry.

So now at the present time, I, Charlie
Grimes Forbes the sixth generation from
Thomas Grimes own 100% of the Grimes
farm. I was born October 13, 1914 and on
December 20, 1936 married Harriet Mae
Brown. She was born March 7, 1915. I have
two children, Carolyn B. Forbes Fisher and
Charles Edward Forbes.

Submitted by Charlie Grimes Forbes

THE HARRIS FARM

Harris homeplace, 200 years old, has the
original thatched wood shingles on the tops of
the entire structure. Crimp tin was added lat-
er. In 1 953 the kitchen quarters were removed
from the house to a location 200 feet to the
right in back of the house for a shelter and
barn. The old screened porch with the addi-
tion of windows and a door made a cozy den.
A bath was a great addition. Knotty pine pan-
eling was put in the three back rooms. The
front three rooms have the original wains-
coating and plastered walls; paint and wallpa-
per were added in 1970 as were storm win-
dows. Upstairs the old ceiling and woodwork
still look great. Some of the original furniture
is still in the Harris house. Clay Winfield Har-
ris and his wife, Janie Rogerson Harris, have
been living here since 1 960. Their only daugh-
ter, Nannette Harris, was born in 1964. She
still resides at the home.

Clay Winfield Harris is the registered own-
er of 350 century farm acres. This was land
inherited through four generations of Harris
relatives. Great-grandparents, Asa and Mary-
ann Harris; grandparents, Robert and Alice
Harris; parents, Garland and Estelle Harris;

Martin

The barn on the right was part of the Harris house befo

and uncle, Luther Harris' inheritance, is how
all this came into being Clay's farmland. In
1 945 Clay's father died. Clay started farming
early in life. Uncle Luther stepped in helping
him in every way, and he became a good far-
mer. He bought 100 acres of this farmland
from his brothers and sisters in 1960. Later,
uncle Luther passed away in 1 984 leaving 250
acres and the Harris house with the provi-
sions that Clay pay each of his brothers and
sisters an amount of money. This Clay did
and we are trying to live and maintain the
farmland and keep it in the Harris name.

This farmland was a 750 acre tract of land
located in the southeastern part of Martin
County. It is bordered on one side by Bear
Grass Swamp and on the other side by the
Beaufort County line. It was divided through
the years to son and daughters alike. Some
sold their interest to others within the family.
Clay's younger brother, Albert Garland Har-
ris, owns 50 acres and his first cousin, Walter
Elliott Harris, owns 1 50 acres and around 1 00
acres were sold outside the Harris name.

Submitted by Janie Rogerson Harris

THE HARRISON FARM

Since 1806 six generations of Harrisons
have been landowners and farmers in Bear
Grass Township of Martin County. King
Harrison first purchased 194.5 acres of land
south and west of what is now Bear Grass,
bordering on Bear Grass Swamp. His son,
John Harrison, also owned 200 acres in the
same general area in 1838.

re 1 953. It was the kitchen, pantry and cook 's quarters.

In January 1 844 Redmond Harrison, son of
John Harrison, bought two tracts of land from
his father-in-law, Jesse Mizell. One tract con-
tained 75 acres and the other 120 acres. He
acquired several more acres of land in the
same area, bordered on the north by Bee Tree
Branch and on the west by Turkey Swamp.

In 1874 Redmond gave a 5 5 acre tract of the
same land he bought in 1 844, to his son, Reu-
bin Harrison. This particular tract is the cen-
tury farm land. After Redmond's death in
1 885, there were 360 acres divided among his
three sons and three daughters. State Road
1 109 is partially bordered on each side with
original Harrison land. In 1887 this road was
called the path. In 1 9 1 it was called the Har-
rison Road with Redmond's children and
grandchildren living there. Today this land is
owned and farmed by his descendants.

The century farm land tract is known as the
Reubin Harrison homeplace. He died in
1907, and his widow, Mary Ann, was cared
for by her youngest son, G.A. Harrison until
her death in 1 928. In 1910 G.A. became own-
er of this tract and after his death in 1 947, his
son C.B., and daughter Bessie, continued to
farm. In 1986 Bessie Harrison Savage and
husband, Lee Savage bought out the late
brother's heirs. It is still being used for general
farming. The crops grown yearly are tobacco,
corn, peanuts, and soybeans.

Submitted by Bessie Harrison Savage

THE HARRISON-GREEN FARM

Martin County records trace the Harrison
farm to James Harrison with a family of three.
James willed his land to two sons. Davis Biggs
Harrison is the ancestor traced to the present
owners.

The Reubin Harrison homeplace, Williamston,
N.C.

The Harrison homeplace.

Martin

Davis (born 1 806) was a farmer in the Bear
Grass Township. The 1 850 census lists Davis
with $500 in real estate; in 1 860 $2,400 in real
estate and $4,000 in personal property; in
1 870 $ 1 000 in real estate and $500 in person-
al property. Davis had 15 children — five
sons, all who served during the Civil War. His
will, probated November 11, 1886, will the
land in part to a son, Cushing Biggs Harrison.

Cushing was born on this farm in 1 843. Pap
Cush had 1 4 children. His only daughter, Del-
la Ann (born April 12, 1887), married Jesse
Dupree Green. Delia returned to the home of
her father, and after the death of her mother,
she filled the role of mother to her younger
brothers along with her two children. During
this period the farm was self-sufficient, grow-
ing tobacco, cotton, edible crops and live-
stock. Cotton was woven into material and
made into bed sheets, and the sheep's wool
was woven into material and used in making
clothes. Pap Cush left the homeplace to Delia
for her lifetime, then to her children. Pap
Cushing is buried in the cemetery on the farm.

N. Cortez Green (born March 9, 1 899) was
reared on the farm. He and his mother, Delia,
were the last family members to live on the
farm. Today the homeplace and 25 acres are
jointly owned by Green and his daughter, Syl-
via Green Smith — sixth generation land-
owner. The farm continues to be a working
farm with tobacco and soybeans as the main
crops. The 100 surrounding acres are owned
by four Harrison heirs with Green owning
one-fourth. Submitted by N.C. Green

THE HOLLIDAY FARM

The Holliday farm, as I know it, began in
1750 when the first Holliday came from
England and settled in Martin County in the
small town of Jamestown. It was later
changed to Jamesville. It is located on the
banks of the Roanoke River which played a
large part in the people settling there. The fish
were abundant in the river. Also found were
deer, raccoons, ducks, birds and other wildlife
for eating and for selling the hides. Timber
was cut floated down the river to larger towns
with mills. Our farm is located two miles from
town.

The Holliday farm decorated for the holidays.

My grandfather, Brightman Nicholson
Holliday, was born in 1854 and lived here
until his death. His wife was Laura Thomas
Davis, a neighborhood girl. They had four
children: Roland, Annie, Thomas Wrighten
(my father) and Gertrude. After the death of
his wife, he left the homeplace in his grand-
mother's hands and went to Tillery to work in
a sawmill. There he met and in due time mar-
ried Cora Cook who lived there. They had one

child, Albert Nicholson, born in 1900. He is
now living in Roanoke, Virginia with his wife
Ada.

In 1915 Thomas married Nona McLean, a
school teacher from Rowland who came to
teach in the little country school known as
Poplar Chapel. They had six children: Thom-
as Wrighten, Jr., Margaret McLean, Eliza-
beth, Frank Nicholson (deceased), Leon Ried
(deceased) and Barbara. All four of the chil-
dren living are married and have families of
their own. Thomas Jr. married a girl from Syr-
acuse, New York while serving his country
during World War II. Dad hoped he would
return to the farm when he retired from ser-
vice. That was not to be. He settled in Syra-
cuse and lived there 25 years and then moved
to St. Petersburg, Florida. Margaret married
Ralph Brown Holliday (no relation), and I
married John Robert Coltrain while he was in
the service. We live on the Holliday farm.
Barbara, the youngest, married John Hagen,
a marine from Clinton, Iowa. They also live
on this farm. We have two sons, married with
families. Neither of our boys live on the farm,
but we hope eventually one of them will
reconsider.

My dad, Thomas, was an able farmer. He
raised such crops as cotton, corn, peanuts,
tobacco, soybeans, tomatoes, cucumbers and
grain crops, rye, oats, etc. He also had hogs;
chickens, milk cows and a goat or two. Besides
farming, he did many other jobs. He was a
mail carrier using the first motorcycle in the
county to go around his route on dirt roads
with footways built over the streams. He also
tried inventing machinery to help farmers. He
got a U.S. patent on a stock pickup used to
haul peanuts to the picker which was much
quicker than mules and carts or wagons.

When I was little, we had four tenant fami-
lies on the farm making a living. My husband
now tends the farm himself. Acres have been
cut until now we tend six acres of tobacco, but
from 28 acres; peanuts cut to ten acres; cotton
has disappeared almost entirely. Dad was the
first to raise hybrid corn, working with the
N.C. State experiment station in Raleigh. He
sold seed corn which he raised over all the
eastern corn growing counties.

My mom died in 1967. Dad died in 1976.
He went in the hospital on his 90th birthday.
My husband and I remodeled his home and
moved from our home into his. We are still
here farming his Holliday land and enjoying
the quiet country home life. We hope one of
our boys will one day return to the farm.

Submitted by Elizabeth Holliday Coltrain

THE MARTIN FARM

The story of the Martin farm began in 1863
when Emily Woolard Martin became the
owner of the 40 acre farm located on the Mar-
tin and Beaufort County line near Bear Grass.
Her husband, John Wheeler Martin, lost his
life in the Civil War. Emily and her son,
Lewellyn Amphus, when he became old
enough, tended the farm. They raised peanuts
and corn, and had cows that roamed the
woods for food. The farm also had a brick
yard and bricks were made there. Later on
they started tending a little tobacco on the
farm and eventually built their own tobacco
barn which had a wood furnace.

Lewellyn married Frances Jolly and they
moved to a nearby farm. Emily continued to

Simon Arthur Martin on Father's Dav in the
1970s.

live at the homeplace and Lewellyn still
helped her farm. They had a nice grapevine
and pear, pecan, peach and apple trees, and a
garden with a strawberry bed.

Emily passed away in December 1922 at
the age of 84. Lewellyn died the year before
with cancer. Emily left the farm to her grand-
son, Simon Arthur, who moved there with his
mother Frances and his youngest sister, Min-
nie. Arthur continued to tend the farm. Fran-
ces died in 1936 after being sick for a few
years. In 1938, at the age of 40, Arthur mar-
ried Mary Emma Rogerson. They had a still-
born son in 1 94 1 , and in 1 944 had twin girls,
Ellen Sue and Betty Lou, and five more
daughters followed. His twins were the first of
his daughters to help him on the farm when
they were old enough, and he even let them
plow a little with the mule. He raised hogs,
too. They had a big garden and Mary canned
food for the winter. By then he was tending a
few acres of tobacco. He employed a black
family in the neighborhood to help him put it
in. Arthur worked very hard to provide for his
family, but developed pernicious anemia and
this caused a temporary setback. When he was
about 70 years old, his tobacco barn burned
and his mule died. He rented his tobacco after
that, and neighbors with tractors helped him.
He again started raising hogs.

After his death in 1 980, his twins, Ellen and
Betty, and their husbands bought the farm
and continued to rent the crops. It was their
wish that the farm stay in the family because
their dad had worked so hard to keep it all
these years. At the present time, Betty and her
husband, Berry Warren live on the farm and
enjoy it. They tend a garden and the farm is
rented to a neighbor.

Submitted by Betty M. Warren

THE PEELE FARM

In 1 787 John Peal started six generations of
farmers in Martin County. He settled at the
head of Little Creek which divides Bear Grass
and Griffins Township. Our present home
was built in 1 886 on a three acre tract on the
Bear Grass side while our farmland is in Grif-
fins Township.

In 1 830 John Peal willed John Peal, Jr. the
land he lived on and adjoining lands.

151

- If If- JJ

The John Robert "Bob" Peele family.

In 1 849 a court ordered settlement of the
John Peal, Jr. estate gave Robert H. Peal, a
son, the homeplace.

In 1 860 Robert H. Peal married Mary Jane
Rogerson. He was killed in the Civil War leav-
ing two sons, Edwin Slade Peal and John Rob-
ert "Bob" Peal (born 1 862). The sons inherit-
ed his Griffins Township estate.

In 1881 Bob and Slade Peal bought 117
acres on the west side of Little Creek in Bear
Grass Township.

In 1895 Slade and Bob Peal divided their
land.

In 1886 Bob Peal built his home. He mar-
ried Susan Florence Manning.

In 1914 Bob Peele willed his wife five acres
in Bear Grass Township and 208 acres in
Griffins Township. At her death or marriage,
his real estate and property went to their son,
Heman Ulysses Peele. Bob and Florence were
buried on the farm.

In 1 925 Heman Peele married Sarah Brown
Leggett. They had two daughters, Sybil
Brown Peele and Polly Rachel Peele.

In 1 868 Heman Peele died leaving the farm
to his wife.

In 1945 Sybil Peele married Rufus S. Gur-
ganus, also a descendant of John Peal, Sr.
They live in the century home and farm the
century land.

In 1978 Rufus and Sybil Peele Gurganus
purchased the John Robert Peele homeplace
and farm from her mother.

Plans are for son, Kenneth, and grand-
daughter, Sarah Gurganus, to continue the
Peele saga.

Submitted by Rufus S. and Sybil P. Gurganus

THE WHITLEY FARM

John Smallwood Whitley inherited the
family farm, the original land grant from King
George II of England ( 1 742) and is currently
farming this tract of land. It is one of the old-
est land grants in the state of North Carolina
to have remained in the same family since the
original was made.

Samuel Biggs Whitley, second son of John
Smallwood Whitley and wife, Deborah Harri-
son Whitley, and son Samuel Grant Whitley
now live in the ancestral home that was built
by Samuel Wheatley III in the eighteenth cen-
tury. The Wheatley-Whitley genealogy is
recorded in "Some Colonial and Revolution-
ary Families of North Carolina Volume II" by
Marilu Burch Smallwood.

Submitted by J. Whitley

Martin — McDowell

McDowell County

THE BROWN FARM

Daniel R. Brown migrated to western
North Carolina form Orange County in the
early 1800s. In 1806 he purchased from
Joseph Wilson for the sum of $290, 300 acres
of land in the Ashford section of northern
McDowell (then Burke) County. The land,
situated in a broad valley or "cove" framed by
Linville and Honeycutt mountains, was well-
suited for general purpose farming. A large
variety of crops and livestock could be raised
such that a high degree of self-sufficiency was
possible. This pattern of general farming on
the Brown land has continued with only
minor variations to the present.

Henrv S. Brown home on the Brown century farm in
Northern McDowell County. Home built in 1916.

Daniel R., his son Samuel and his grandson
John Seawell, farmed the land until the 1 860s
with work being performed by family mem-
bers as well as by slaves. During the pre-Civil
War period additional lands were acquired
and a large barn of post-and-beam construc-
tion as well as several log outbuildings were
erected. The barn and two of the log outbuild-
ings from that era have survived to the pres-
ent.

Following the Civil War John Seawell
became active in politics and served terms in
both the North Carolina House and Senate.
The farm was managed by his son Romulus
Walter, a Confederate Cavalry veteran. Rom-
ulus maintained some 200 acres in cultiva-
tion during the 1870s and 1880s with work
performed by family members and hired
hands, several of whom were former slaves.
Romulus built a water-powered "roller mill"
on the property to grind corn and wheat for
his family and neighbors. He also built and
operated a licensed distillery until the early
1890s.

In 1889 Henry Seawell, who had earlier
attended Davis Military Academy in Wins-
ton-Salem, acquired the farm from his father,
Romulus, and worked to improve its efficien-
cy and productivity. He invested in such
items as a reaper and thrashing machine and
in 1 908 rebuilt the roller mill, the earlier one
having burned. He also installed saw and
planer mills and added steam power. A well-
equipped blacksmith shop was a vital part of
the operation. Both the mills and blacksmith
shop were destroyed in the 1916 flood. None-
theless, during the first half of the 20th centu-
ry, Henry Seawell and his family continued to
mechanize the farm and to experiment with
the new breeds of livestock and strains of
plants while enjoying considerable self-
sufficiency.

In 1 949 the farm passed to Henry Seawell's
heirs, several of whom still live on the proper-
ty. One of the sons, Romulus Jahue, lives on
and manages a large part of the farm for cattle
and the production of such items as hay, soy-
beans, corn, shrubbery, vegetables and fruits.
About 50 acres of the farm containing the old
homeplace with its pre-Civil War outbuild-
ings, some of the turn of the century vintage
machinery and most of the family records are
now in the possession of Henry S. Brown, pro-
fessor of geology at North Carolina State Uni-
versity and son of Romulus Jahue.

Submitted by Henry S. and Wilda E. Brown

THE ENGLISH FARM

The English farm, Sunnalee, is in the Ash-
ford Community of McDowell County. It has
remained in the English family since Gabriel
English and his brothers left Ireland for Mary-
land and then to North Carolina in the 1 830s.

The current English home built in 1880.

Gabriel and his brother, William, original-
ly owned 1000 acres of what is now the upper
end of the North Cove Township. The present
owner, William Garvel English, has a receipt
dated 1838 showing Gabriel's purchase of
100 acres of land for $5.

At present, seventeen different families
and four summer residents live on the origi-
nal property. Although much of the farm has
returned to forest and pasture, the English
family still owns 418 acres.

The current English home was built in 1 880
by Jehu, and is occupied by his grandson, Wil-
liam Garvel. Adjacent to the home is the log
kitchen built in 1830.

The oldest date in the family cemetery
shows 1 773 as the birthdate of Henry English.
There are older graves than his; those of the
Askews and Onstodtts, earlier settlers, whose
graves are marked by flat rocks stacked upon
them.

The first three generations of Englishes,
Henry, Gabriel, and Jehu, were farmers. The
fourth generation, Romulus, owned a general
merchandise store. William Garvel, the fifth
generation, added a herd of purebred Jersey
cattle to the farm and sold cream. During
World War II he changed to Holstein cattle
and had a Grade A dairy. Rom, the sixth gen-
eration, continued the dairy business until
1 985. Rom's three children, the seventh gen-
eration, insist that the farm will remain in the
English family.

Submitted by William Garvel English

152

THE GREENLEE FARM

Soon after the Revolutionary War, James
Greenlee of Burke County bought an exten-
sive tract of land along the Catawba River in
what is now McDowell County, and settled
his son, David Washington, on it. David was
a sheep and cattle herder as well as an inn-
keeper. His home, a stagecoach stop known as
"The Double Diamond Inn" was a landmark
in the community until it burned in the mid
1970s. His estate was called "The Glades."

Home of William Harvey Greenlee IV, built by his
brother, Robert L. Greenlee in 1892. It is the present
home of Ruth and Nina Greenlee.

The home of David's son, Thomas Young
Greenlee, constructed of logs, stands on a hill
overlooking "The Glades." Farmlands sur-
rounding it diminished in number of acres
because of the divisions among children, still
remain in the family. Thomas built a small
lake on the branch that runs through the prop-
erty and kept it well stocked with fish. The
lake was restored and enlarged a few years ago
and fish abound in its depths again. The log
smokehouse still stands.

Succeeding generations have built on the
portions of land they inherited. What is now
the Greenlee farm, approximately 400 acres
of farm and woodland belong to the descen-
dants of William Harvey Greenlee, the son of
Thomas Y. Greenlee. Wide stretches of
growth along the banks of the bordering
streams have protected the farmland from
erosion by floods. Although a large, fine
wheat crop was carried away in the deluge of
1916, the topsoil remained.

Wheat, corn, oats, soybeans and other grain
have been grown on the land ever since it has
been under cultivation. It is presently being
leased by a progressive farmer who has grown
many crops that have broken records for the
number of bushels per acre, and has attracted
the attention of other farmers.

Submitted by Ruth M. Greenlee

THE McCALL FARM

Called Conasoga by the Cherokees, the
North Cove Valley in McDowell County is
the setting for the McCall farm. Bounded in
part by the North Fork of the Catawba River
and Honeycutt Creek, with a view of Hawks-
bill mountain to the east and Mount Mitchell
to the west, our 200 acre crop and woodlands
farm was a portion of lands purchased in 1 846
by Robert and Lydia Gillespie McCall.

Their only child William Aiken, and his
wife, Katherine M. McCall, inherited and
acquired extensive acreage around their

McDowell — Mecklenburg

North Cove home after their marriage in
1 839. Their son William, and Catherine Con-
ley McCall established their homestead on
our portion in 1871. Our father, Charles A.,
son of William and Catherine, and his wife,
Lela Marlowe, continued the ownership until
his three children, Clara R. McCall, Alvin G.
McCall and Alma McCall Childers became
the present owners.

Submitted by Clara R. McCall

THE MORRIS FARM

The Morris homestead located in the Sugar
Hill section of McDowell County began on
July 8, 1 788, when William Morris purchased
10 acres from Thomas Raybon for the sum of
50 pounds. Of course, the farm was then locat-
ed in Burke County as McDowell County's
formation was some 54 years in the future.
One-half pound per acre seems to be the
approximate rate for property in those days,
for in 1801 William added 331 acres to his
property paying 1 50 pounds. Over the next 34
years William made four more property
acquisitions, including a 40 acre grant from
the state of North Carolina, increasing the
size of his farm to 671 acres.

▲ .

The Morris farm, registered under the name of Patri-
cia H. Brown, a descendant of William Morris.

Most of the property almost left the family
upon William's death, however, for he willed
the house and orchard to his wife but decreed
the remainder of his property, some 450
acres, be sold and the proceeds divided equal-
ly among his children. Fortunately, three of
his sons found a way to honor the will and
keep the property in the family. They and five
associates bought the property, the proceeds
were distributed, and later, one of William's
grandsons bought out the partners.

The direct line from William Morris to the
six current owners is as follows: William Mor-
ris to John Morris to Elijah Morris to Pink
Morris to Bertha Morris Hemphill (together
with her brothers, Fred, Ray, and Jack) to
Rebecca L. Hemphill and her children, Jac-
queline and John Templeton, and Patricia
Hemphill Brown and her children, Kent and
Julie Brown.

Pink Morris (1862-1 942) was a particularly
progressive owner of the farm. He enlarged
the farm's size to the present 761 acres and
very early on invested in mechanical power.
He was one of the first locals to work the land
with a tractor, to electrically light his home
with a Delco generator, and to install running
water gravity-fed from a distant hillside
spring.

The current owners, sixth and seventh gen-
eration Morris descendants, are content to let
beef cattle graze the pastures, timber grow on
the steep hillsides, and occasionally picnic in
the shade of a remaining chimney of one of
the three farm homesites — a far cry from the
days when William's slaves tended the
orchards and worked the land.

Submitted by Patricia H. Brown

Mecklenburg County

THE POTTS FARM

John Potts and his family traveled the
Great Wagon Road from Pennsylvania to
North Carolina and settled on a 636 acre one
square mile land grant recorded September 4,
1753 in what was then Anson County (now
Mecklenburg). The vast forests and rich bot-
tom lands of the headwaters of Rocky River
became home to John Potts and seven suc-
ceeding generations of his direct family
descendants. The land grant has passed
directly by will to each of the generations.

The Robert Potts, Jr. home built in 1811, now co-
owned by Mrs. Miriam Smith Whisnant and Mrs.
Lilyan Smith Hunter.

The present home was built by a grandson
of John Potts, Robert Potts, Jr., during the
year 1811. This date is documented as the
first entry in his family Bible with the nota-
tion: "Married Nancy Gillespie August 22,
1811, and commenced housekeeping January
1, 1812." The two-story federal style home
was constructed of massive hand-hewn logs
cut on the plantation, clapboarded over and
resting on a fieldstone foundation. Robert
Potts and his wife, Nancy, raised ten children
on this farm.

Robert was a founder of historical Bethel
Presbyterian Church in 1828, and helped
organize in 1 837 and served on the first Board
of Trustees of Davidson College. His sons all
attended Davidson, and his son Charles Stan-
hope Potts was a student in the first session.

The Robert Potts, Jr. home and acreage was
designated an historic site in the year 1 976 by
the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Properties Com-
mission. The site is documented as the only
restored historical home situated on the origi-
nal 636 acre land grant acreage with the origi-
nal 18th century furnishing, always owned
and occupied by direct descendants in the
county of Mecklenburg. There are three of the
original plantation dependency buildings
remaining in 1 987 — the 1811 log barn with
its massive granite watering trough, the log
smokehouse and the outside kitchen. Rem-

153

nants of the English boxwood garden also
remain.

In 1 922 Clifton E. Smith and his wife, Mary
Reid Smith, began a true "love relationship"
with the Potts farm. Cliff Smith, a sixth gener-
ation descendant, inherited from his mother,
Lillie Potts Smith, a portion of the farm. In
1946 through purchase and by will, he
became the sole owner of the entire land grant
acreage. Each family generation before him
plowed, sowed and harvested the fields a little
differently, but he tried during his lifetime to
improve the soil and his farming methods.
After World War II, the tenant families left
the farm for industrial jobs; the large cotton
fields were replaced with pasture grass, and
fences for the cattle were erected. Tractors
and other mechanized machinery replaced
the reliable mule teams who were retired to
the pastures to live out their lives.

In 1969 the present owners, Mrs. Miriam
Smith Whisnant and Mrs. Lilyan Smith Hun-
ter, inherited the Robert Potts, Jr. home and
acreage from their father, Clifton E. Smith.
They pride themselves in being the first wom-
en in seven generations to own the entire land
grant.

Today, Mrs. Hunter's son, Charles Eugene
Hunter, is the eighth generation to farm our
land. He is raising cattle, growing grains and
hay with the help of our ninth generation far-
mer, 18 year old Charles Wesley Hunter.

Another eighth generation family member,
Miriam Jane Whisnant, a vice-president for
First Union National Bank, spends many
weekends helping to maintain the historic
Robert Potts, Jr. house and grounds. She
serves frequently as a docent for the home on
tours sponsored by the Mecklenburg Histori-
cal Association and the Huntersville, North
Carolina Woman's Club.

Several years ago a 1 00 year old man who
had spent the better part of his life farming for
our family told my sister and me that we were
merely "caretakers" of our farm for the good
Lord and we should honor that trust. For 234
years our family generations have found love,
honesty, strength, trust and fortitude in our
land and may our generation and the ones to
come continue to hold these qualities in their
hearts. May we always be good caretakers.

Submitted by Mrs. Miriam Smith Whisnant and
Mrs. Lilyan Smith Hunter

THE ROBINSON FARM

Davis Robinson's two uncles on adjoining
farms were century farmers. The three fami-

The Robinson homeplace in the snow, January,
1955.

Mecklenburg — Montgomery

lies afforded 20 children a college education.
The three families had Jersey cows. They
worked farm machinery with one another;
also they used the same swimming lake.

Davis Robinson's grandfather, J.M. Davis,
owned about 40 farms in Mecklenburg Coun-
ty. He left three of these farms to me and my
two sisters. His dad grew 1 000 bales of cotton
on one farm in a year. The panic nearly broke
him. His son, Capt. J.M. Davis, saved the
farm.

The farm was between Central Avenue and
Sugar Creek Road, west in Mecklenburg
County. Capt. J.M. Davis developed a core
breed of horses.

Davis Robinson inherited two farms from
his dad who was county commissioner for ten
years in Mecklenburg County. One on North
Graham Street that is leased out on a ten year
net lease. The other on Davis Robinson Road
in Derita adjoining IBM. It has 100 acres,
most of it in pasture, where 40 ponies and 3 1
beef cattle were kept for several years.

Davis Robinson has been married to Faire
Hemby for 52 years. She is a past president of
The Charlotte Opera Association and a life-
time member. He has operated Art Flower
Shop in Charlotte since 1925. He has been a
Presbyterian, Mason, Elk and Kiwanis for
over 50 years. Submitted by Davis Robinson

THE WILKINSON FARM

This tract of land, consisting of 1 10 acres,
is located on the Patetown Road in Wayne
County, two miles from the present city limit
of Goldsboro. The entire back of the farm
borders Stony Creek. This tract is also a part
of an 1801 land grant to George Deans and is
known and referred to in deeds and records as
the Granger Place. It has been in my family
for several generations and has been owned
three times by women.

The Wilkinson homeplace.

My grandmother, Alice Granger Ham,
owned and operated this farm from 1892-
1901. My mother, Elizabeth Ham Wilkinson,
was owner and operator from 1901-1958.
Following this, the farm was bought from the
heirs of Elizabeth Ham Wilkinson by Eliza-
beth Wilkinson Mathews of Charlotte. In
1 980 it was designated as a century farm.

In 1 870 this farm was sold to Matthew Jor-
dan Ham by his father-in-law, T.A. Granger,
and has been in continuous blood line owner-
ship since then. Matthew Jordan Ham mar-
ried Alice Eugenia Granger in 1870 and to
this union were born the following children:
Elizabeth Ceres Ham (Wilkinson), Thaddeus
Abner Ham, Mary Ham (Howell), Emma

Ham (Broome), Ranson Ham, George Ham,
Adlai Stevenson Ham, Ellen Ham (Barden)
and Rena Mae Ham.

The house on the farm dates back to 1870.
It was built by T.A. Granger for his daughter,
Alice Granger Ham, but it was so big she
would never live in it. Instead, she chose to
spend her life in a small unpainted six room
house where she reared her family of eight.
When my mother married Carroll Ashton
Wilkinson, they moved into the present big
house and it was here that their family of eight
grew up. These children were Alice Mazana
Wilkinson (Haynes), Carroll Ashton Wilkin-
son, Jr., Helen Wilkinson (Howell), Hiram
Childrey Wilkinson, Elizabeth Wilkinson
(Mathews), Elmer Ham Wilkinson, Ivor Wil-
kinson (West) and Jesse Thompson Wilkin-
son.

In 1 963 the house was restored in the origi-
nal form as nearly as possible. Old ceilings,
chimneys, pine floors, and primitive mantels
tell the story of the past. The wrap around
porch is still there, but the floor is now con-
crete. There are seven bedrooms, two baths, a
large kitchen and dining area and a den. The
foundation has never swayed with the storms
and hurricanes. It even withstood the ravages
of hurricane Hazel.

Through the years, the land has produced
corn, cotton, wheat, tobacco, soybeans, hay
and potatoes. It has endured the changes from
primitive tilling of the soil to the modern ways
of machinery. Old tobacco barns, pack hous-
es, tenant houses and stock barns have been
replaced with bulk barns and a huge metal
building that accommodates tractors and
trucks. It is here that retired farmers of the
community gather for conversation, fiddling
and food.

My hope is that this family farm will sur-
vive the ravages of "progress." Now, howev-
er, I tremble when I see the city creeping
closer. My roots are in the soil, and hopefully
this place will continue as a productive family
farm. I hope my son, Carroll Mathews, will
carry on — then my grandson, Christopher
Mathews. Submitted by Elizabeth Mathews

Montgomery County

THE DUNN FARM

John J. Dunn was born on December 23,
1 855 in upper Montgomery County. His par-
ents educated him well, especially for the
times, and brought him up to be a devout
Methodist. On May 2, 1 877 he married Sinda
Ann Britt. Sinda Ann was born March 31,

The home John and Sinda Dunn built in 1880.

154

1855, but as was the custom for girls during
this period, she received little formal educa-
tion. Six children were born of this union (five
girls and one boy). The son, named Dossie
Anderson, was born August 22, 1891.

John Dunn purchased his farm in 1866 in
part from his brother, Raleigh Dunn, and in
part through a land grant from the state of
North Carolina. The farm is located three
miles east of Biscoe.

Soon after their marriage in 1 877, John and
Sinda built their home. A large rock fireplace
furnished the only source of heat for the entire
house. Access to the kitchen area from the
main living portion of the house was by way of
a long porch on the north side. The porch had
shelves for the water bucket and the wash
basins. Water was drawn from a shallow well
dugjust a few steps from the house. The origi-
nal home still stands today, but for many
years was used as a tobacco packing house.

John and Sinda supported themselves and
their family by farming until both died in
1928. Cash crops during these times were
mainly cotton and corn. As was common dur-
ing this period, a family garden provided
most of their food supplies.

In 1914 their son, Dossie, married Crissie
Leach, a postal clerk from Star. Crissie was
born April 27, 1 893. They built their home on
the farm in 1914 and began their family.
They, too, had six children.

In 1914 and again in 1920, Dossie bought
tracts of the farm from his parents and with
their deaths in 1928, he purchased the
remainder of the land from the other heirs. All
of these transactions were recorded in 1928.
Dossie and Crissie continued to farm the
land. Their main cash crops were tobacco,
corn and wheat. In later years peaches and
watermelons were an added source of income.

Dossie died in 1 968, but Crissie still resides
in the home they built together in 1914. One
child from their marriage survives. Irene
Dunn Britt lives on the farm with her hus-
band, Robert. This third generation contin-
ues to farm the land but today the main cash
crops are beef cattle and timber.

Submitted by Irene Dunn Britt

THE HAYWOOD FARM

This land was granted to John D. Haywood
in 1810, then to James D. Haywood in 1 860,
to John W. Haywood in 1900, then to G.A.
Haywood in 1942, and G.A. Haywood, Jr. in
1948.

Crops produced were cotton up to 1945,
wheat, oats, barley, rye, corn, milo and soy-
beans.

The farm consists of a house and a barn; a
store since 1913, and a sawmill since 1 946.

Submitted by G.A. Haywood, Jr.

THE MCDONALD FARM

Montgomery — Moore

Mr. and Mrs. W.T. McDonald 1967.

He settled and lived on a part of what is now
our farm in 1 774. He lived there a short while
on Mountain Creek in Anson County, now
Montgomery. This was an area where many
Highland Scots settled. Among their neigh-
bors were Allan and Flora McDonald who
had a large plantation on Cheek's Creek near
Pekin. These people attended what is now one
of the oldest Presbyterian Churches in the
state — Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church —
just off Highway 220 near Norman.

The drums of war began to roll and these
Scots had to make a decision to remain loyal
to England or become a Patriot and fight for
the Revolution. Because of the "Tory Oath"
and a promise of King George III of 200 acres,
rent free for 20 years, many chose to be a Loy-
alist.

Soiarle McDonald fought in the battle of
Moore's Creek, escaped and fought as a cap-
tain in the Loyalist army around Philadel-
phia.

Later, he and many of his neighbors settled
in Nova Scotia, "New Scotland." Soiarle
McDonald sent back claims for 1 ,327 acres of
land.

A Scot by the name of Allen McDonald
obtained 290 acres of the land in 1804 and
1825. The relationship to Soiarle McDonald
is not known. Montgomery County records
were burned.

Surviving family members are Mrs. W.T.
McDonald, mother, 98 years old; William A.
McDonald, engineer, Fallston, Maryland;
Helen McDonald Hart, retired teacher, Mt.
Holly, North Carolina; Martha McDonald
Ayers, retired teacher, Fairmont, North Caro-
lina. Submitted by Martha McDonald Ayers

THE MCKINNON FARM

The story of our farm goes back to 1772
when a man by the name of Soiarlie McDon-
ald came to this country from Scotland. He
brought a goodly amount of money with him,
and was granted several hundred acres of
land.

JohnT. McKinnon was born May 10, 1821
and died July 23, 1 888. He was the owner of
thousands of acres of land in Moore and
Montgomery Counties.

David Dumas McKinnon, his son, was my
grandfather. He was the owner of 5,500 +

acres of farmland, some previously owned by
John T. McKinnon. He was the operator and
owner of a cotton gin and general store. The
first store building was destroyed by fire, but
the second store building is still standing and
is used for storage. Cotton, wheat, oats and
corn were the main crops, all farmed with
mules. Crops planted today are grains and
soybeans, planted with tractors.

Benny McKinnon, my brother, is the owner
of the John T. McKinnon homeplace. He
lives there in the one-story farmhouse which
he has remodeled and modernized. This
house was built around 1 849.

Jean McKinnon Hubbard is the owner of
the David Dumas McKinnon homeplace, and
presently lives there. Extensive remodeling
has been done with modern conveniences
added. This house is a two-story frame house.
The front four rooms were built in 1 882 and
three additional rooms and wrap around
front and back porches were added in 1906.

Submitted by Jean McKinnon Hubbard

THE WRIGHT FARM

Our father, William Clark Wright, was
born in Moore County in 1869, the son of
Cornelia Wallace Wright and James Madison
Wright.

They moved to Biscoe in Montgomery
County in 1 875 into a one-room log building
that had been used for a schoolhouse.

Billie, as he was called by family and
friends, grew up on this farm, and at the age of
24 married Susie Elizabeth Dixon of Siler
City. Billie was given this one-room log house
and 60 acres of land, and he bought additional
acres adjoining the 60 from his father.

Our mother and father started housekeep-
ing in this one-room log house, and as the
family grew, other rooms were added. To this
union were born six daughters and three sons.

The main crops raised on this farm, besides
a good garden, were corn, wheat, oats and cot-
ton. The last year cotton was grown was 1 929.
During the late 1 920s we operated a dairy. We
milked the cows by hand, bottled the milk and
delivered it directly to homes.

In 1935 our father, William Clark Wright,
died suddenly and soon after his death the
brothers and sisters deeded the farm to Glenn
Wright and William C. Wright, Jr. to pay off
a loan on the farm and to take care of our
mother.

About 1946 I, William C, Jr., was able to
get a tobacco allotment and grow tobacco
until the 1 970s when I didn't have the needed
help and had to give up my allotment.

My brother, Glenn, died in 1971 and left
me as the executor of his estate. He left his half
of the farm to Bessie and Valeria Wright. Now
the farm belongs to Bessie, Valeria and Wil-
liam C. Wright, Jr. We three still live on the
farm. I am in charge.

Submitted by William C. Wright, Jr.

Moore County

THE BAKER FARM

The 100 acres that are farmed and man-
aged by John Baker today are a part of a larg-

155

Moore

John Baker and David Keith in front of John Keith 's
home built circa I860.

er, approximately 500 acre tract on which his
great grandfather, Hugh Keith, settled,
farmed, and raised his nine children. His
great-grandfather came to Wilmington from
Scotland in 1803, and after working on the
Cape Fear River for a while, moved out from
Fayetteville to the Crain's Creek section of
lower Moore County. He began clearing and
working this tract of land around 1810.

Around 1850 John Baker's grandfather,
John Keith, so that he might establish his own
home, was given the present 100 acres by his
father Hugh Keith. The farm enabled John
Keith to provide for the needs of his family,
by raising vegetables, grain, stock and feed.
The sale of pine pitch used to make turpentine
provided the small amount of cash needed for
this family of four children.

John Baker's mother and father, Sarah and
Walter Baker, along with his aunt, Catherine
Keith, through the farm, were able to nourish
another generation.

At 89 years old, John Baker today contin-
ues to efficiently manage this 100-acre farm
acquired by his great-grandfather 178 years
ago, and cleared and worked by his grandfa-
ther 1 38 years ago.

John has recently deeded the farm to his
cousin, David Keith and his nephew, J.W.
Guin, in the hope that it will remain in the
family for many generations to come.

David Keith hopes to restore his great-
grandfather's homeplace and live there in the
near future. Submitted by John Baker

THE BLUE FARM

Neill Calvin Blue, son of Daniel Blue and
grandson of "River" Daniel Blue the immi-
grant, inherited approximately 300 acres of
the "River" Daniel Blue farm when his father
died in 1874.

In an article published in "The Pilot" Sep-
tember 26, 1924 Neill C. laid claim to the
introduction of tobacco growing in the Eure-
ka Community, to the introduction of the
wide-row method of corn planting (five feet
between furrows, and thick in the row), and
the open furrow method of planting oats. He
enthusiastically supported cooperative mar-
keting and regarded it as the most plausible
solution of the farmers' problems.

A one-story house was built about 1874.
Neill C. and his wife Nancy had 12 children,
so it became necessary to add a second story
to the home in the early 1900s. The appear-
ance of the house is much the same today.

The Herbert Nelson Blue farm.

When Neill died in 1 926, 1 1 of his children
were still living. The farm was divided into 1 2
tracts of about 25 acres each. Nancy Blue
lived in the home until her death in 1932. Sev-
eral of the children lived on the farm through-
out the years, but Neill T. Blue, one of the
sons, assumed the business responsibilities
for the farm until his death in 1977. Today
over half of the original 300 acre farm is still
family-owned.

Herbert Nelson Blue and his wife, Helen,
purchased the house and 50 acres in 1978.
Currently, the farm is used for gardening,
growing grain and grazing beef cattle.

The upper and lower porches on the south
side of the house made a perfect setting for a
solar heating system and this area was incor-
porated in a sun space. The house was fea-
tured in Part 4 of UNC-TV's "Building With
the Sun." In 1 982 the house was recognized as
an example of energy efficient solar design
and was included in the governor's showcase
of solar homes. Submitted by H. Nelson Blue

THE BLUE FARM

"River" Daniel Blue immigrated to Moore
County from the Isle of Jura in Scotland with

his family and purchased 1 78 acres from John
Warner on October 24, 1804. They moved
into a two-story log house which still stands.

By 1836, he had expanded his farm to 800
acres growing primarily corn, cotton and
wheat. His son, Daniel II, was in partnership
with him and by the year 1850, he owned
1 050 acres continuing his father's agricultural
pursuits but had added a sizeable livestock
operation consisting largely of hogs and
sheep. Daniel IPs son, Samuel D., moved into
the home about 1884 with his family and
cared for his elderly parents, continuing the
family farm ownership. He added grain and
turpentine to their operation. A shingle mill
was located on the farm until it burned in the
early 1900s.

A railroad from Pinehurst to Carthage was
constructed and passed through the property.
A siding called "Blues siding," allowed resi-
dents along Wad's Creek to take advantage of
the rail service until it was discontinued about
1920.

John W. Blue then inherited the farm joint-
ly with a brother and a sister from their par-
ents and continued growing the crops already
mentioned. Tobacco had been added as the
main money crop by 1 900 and remains the
primary cash crop. When John W. Blue died

"River" Daniel Blue house lived in by six generations of Blues (old kitchen to the left of the house).

156

Moore

in 1947, his son, J. Sam Blue carried on as his
forefathers had.

Presently, he and his son, John Samuel
Blue, Jr. are growing tobacco, corn, soybeans,
small grain, hay and have a small herd of beef
cattle. The farm consists of approximately
600 acres with numerous parcels of land hav-
ing been inherited by previous generations.
The original 1 78 acre tract with the log home
was placed on the National Register of Histor-
ic Places in 1 983. Part of the description given
on the application is as follows: "The house,
with its heart pine interiors, pegged log sills,
and twentieth century additions is one of a
few surviving log houses of the period and is
a study in the architectural development of an
early structure. Along with the farm, it repre-
sents an ever decreasing number of farm-
steads maintained and operated by successive
generations of the same family."

Submitted by Mr. and Mrs. J. Sam Blue and
Mr. John S. Blue, Jr.

THE CALLICUTT FARM

The first records we have of James Cal-
licutt are tax receipts, beginning with the year
1802, paid in Moore County. We have no
records of the land he was paying taxes on at
this time. According to the deeds for Septem-
ber 9, 1825, James Callicutt bought land on
both the north and south sides of Wolf Creek
in upper Moore County. In 1833 he bought
land on the north side of Wolf Creek, which is
our farm today. On February 7, 1852 James
sold all his land on both sides of Wolf Creek to
his son, Archibald Callicutt (Archie). There
were eight tracts (4 1 8 acres) bought by Archie
for $350.

L to R: William Ray, Wiley Harrison and Lloyd
Wayne Callicutt with assorted canines.

Archibald served in the Civil War, North
Carolina company, 15th regiment. He had
eight children. After Archie and his wife's
deaths, the land was equally divided between
the eight children. Some of the children
bought land from the others who wanted to
sell out. The two brothers who remained on
the land were Peter Wiley on the north side,
and John Eli on the south side of Wolf Creek.

Peter Wiley had five children, one of whom
was Wiley Harrison Callicutt, born Decem-
ber 10, 1916, and died December 17, 1984.
Harrison was known for his love of hound
dogs and coon hunting. He was coon hunting
when he died suddenly with a heart attack.
Before his death, Harrison had divided his
land between his three children.

Today Bessie Callicutt, daughter of John
Eli, owns the land south of Wolf Creek. The

old homeplace of Archibald still remains on
this land. The old family cemetery, where
Archibald is buried, is also on this land.

Harrison's three children, Vicki Callicutt
Barbour, William Ray Callicutt, and Lloyd
Wayne Callicutt now own the land north of
Wolf Creek. Submitted by Evelyn H. Callicutt

THE CAVINESS FARM

This farm was purchased by Arnold
Edward Caviness. Around 1857 Arnold
Edward, with his family, "one a teenage son
Thomas Henry," came to Moore County
from Randolph County. At that time cotton
was king and cotton was the money crop of the
farm. Also raised along with the cotton was
corn, wheat, potatoes, rye, oats, plus cane.
The cane was used for homemade syrup.
Arnold Edward also had, for his own use,
cows, sheep, hogs, horses, mules and chick-
ens.

Henry Lester Caviness and wife, Helen. The home-
place is now owned by Wayne Lester Caviness and
family.

Arnold divided his land among his children
around 1890. Some of the children desired
cash instead of land. Therefore, Thomas Hen-
ry (my father) purchased land from his broth-
er John, increasing the acres of my father.
John moved to then Ore Hill, near Bonlee, to
live and work in an iron ore mine until his
death.

Thomas Henry farmed with his father here
on the old place until the outbreak of the Civil
War in April 1861. Thomas Henry was patri-
otically led to join the confederacy at age 1 6'/2.
Eight months later, Thomas Henry was dis-
charged from service as under age.

On December 28, 1863, now 18, Thomas
Henry enlisted again for the duration of the
war.

Thomas Henry trudged homeward on foot
from Edenton to Carthage, carrying his trusty
musket. After days on foot, sore feet and tired
muscles, Thomas Hardy sought shelter in a
barn filled with seed cotton where he spent the
night. At dawn, after a good nights sleep,
Thomas Henry arose and continued down the
trail home, leaving his trusty nine pound mus-
ket on the pile of cotton. Thomas Henry had
no money, but his heart was in the right place,
and Thomas Henry felt his lodging was now
paid for.

Thomas Henry married Effie Jane Muse in
1 868, and they had 1 2 children (four sons and
eight daughters). Effie died in 1896, and
Thomas Henry remained a widower for 17

years. In 1 9 1 3 at age 69, Thomas Henry mar-
ried Loula Jane Spivey, my mother. She was
then 29. There were three boys from this
union, all three sons born in the homeplace,
which is still adequate living quarters for
Henry Lester's son.

During the course of time, during the life of
Thomas Henry, some of Thomas Henry's
children by the first marriage received parcels
of land.

After the death of Thomas Henry in 1932,
children of the first marriage received half his
land which they sold and divided the cash
among the families of the first marriage. The
remaining half of the land was willed to his
then wife, Loula, and their three sons.

Over a period of time land was transferred
by purchase, deeds or both to Henry Lester
Caviness. Henry Lester lived on the farm his
entire life except for 21 years active duty in
the U.S. Air Force. Henry Lester met his wife,
Helen Styles, when Helen was a 1st Lt. army
nurse, and he a sergeant. The marriage of
Helen and Henry L. was in 1943.

The land is still under cultivation. Tobacco
barns, chicken houses, smokehouse, cow stall,
and mule barn are no longer in evidence, as
operation of the farm switched to tree farm-
ing. A few acres are still used for orchard,
feed, grain, vegetables and flowers.

Living on the farm now are Henry L. and
wife, Helen. They farm for the pleasure of
sharing garden produce with others.

A daughter of Henry and Helen, Susan
Caviness, P.H.D. has interests elsewhere and
does not live on the farm.

In the homeplace where Henry Lester was
born lives son, Wayne Lester, with his wife,
Lynn Wester, and their three children, Philip,
Stephen and Sarah.

Submitted by Henry L. Caviness

THE COLE FARM

The century farm owned today by Billy and
Betty Cole has been in the family since 1 862.
Early records were destroyed when the court-
house in Moore County burned down about
1900.

The land was purchased in 1862 by John
McKenzie. A son, John J., inherited 1 00 acres
of land around 1885. All the documents were
destroyed by the courthouse fire.

In 1950 these lands were divided equally
among eight children.

In 1957 Betty Dupree, a granddaughter,
married Billy M. Cole. In 1973 Billy M. and
Betty D. purchased one tract of that division
and by 1978, we had purchased six tracts of
the original eight tracts of the J.J. McKenzie
homeplace. These lands, being in the family
of Betty all these years, preserve much history
for the family.

In 1983 we purchased the Billy Cole home-
place from my mother, a portion of a tract
owned by R.A. Cole probably in the 1800s,
though not registered as a century farm due to
record loss. Today we have both homeplaces.
We want to preserve and pass on to our chil-
dren a rich heritage and hope they do the
same.

Submitted by Billy M. Cole and Betty D. Cole

157

THE COX/MONROE FARM

In the early 1 850s this farm was the original
homeplace of Holcomb Rosenberg Cox and
his wife Catharine Ann Dowd Cox.

Holcomb Rosenberg Cox and Catherine Ann Dowd
Cox.

All through the Cox generations at this farm
they have told of an experience during a most
severe summer drought back around the turn
of the century, wherein all the wells and
springs went dry, except the Silver Run
spring. Consequently, the Coxes and many of
their neighbors received their water there
through that crisis. So it was natural to call the
farm "Silver Run."

They first built a large single-room log
house with a rock chimney and large fire-
place. The fireplace served for both cooking
and heating. The water came from a nearby
spring. At the same time they built a log barn
with a loft and was surrounded by a shelter.
This barn has served its purpose for much
over 100 years, and it is maintained to this
day.

Needless to say, Holcomb and Catharine
Cox had to work almost endlessly to make a
living for their family. Everything was hand-
work, such as carrying water from the spring,
cooking in the fireplace, clearing the timber
by axe out of places needed for growing crops,
and rolling logs into piles for burning them.
Their son, Willis Judson Cox, many years lat-
er said his father ("Pap") would even go out at
night with his axe and work in the clearing by
the fire light.

After the Civil War, living conditions were
terribly hard for southern farm families.
Their daughter, Mary Elizabeth, had a great
desire for an education. Finally, she suc-
ceeded in graduating at the renowned, John E.
Kelly's Union Home Academy, and after-
wards she taught school.

The family by this time had grown-up. Ann
Hasseltine married Absolum Pilot Fry and
they started their family. Judson was doing
most of the farming with the help of Charlie.
Unfortunately, the two younger girls died in
the early 1 890s. Addie was 1 6 and Laura was
25.

By reason of the Page's railroad coming
through the county about 1 890 to afford more
distant commerce, the lumber business began
to flourish, so the sale of timber gave a lift to
the farm income. And as the Cox land grew
good timber, it became obvious that timber
care was important, and this led eventually to
Silver Run becoming a tree farm.

By 1894, Holcomb's health was declining,
so he and Catharine began conveying parts of
the farm to their sons, Judson and Charlie,

Moore

and by 1901 all of the land had been so con-
veyed.

Mary Elizabeth was married to John Archi-
bald Monroe March 6, 1 892. They reared five
children with much care, namely: Alberta,
Blanche, Joseph, Clement and Fred. Mary
also gave much care to her parents. Holcomb
died in 1904. Catharine, Judson and Charlie
lived on at the homeplace. Catharine died in
1919.

Judson and Charlie continued to farm, and
Mary would see them at times to make sure of
their well-being. When Mary was unsure her
brothers could stand the rigors of winter at
Silver Run, she would have them come over
to West End to stay a while in her home. In
1936 Judson and Charlie conveyed Silver
Run to Mary's children: Alberta C. Monroe,
Blanche L. Monroe, Joseph A. Monroe,
Clement R. Monroe and Fred B. Monroe.

In 1980 Silver Run was conveyed to John L.
Monroe and wife, Evelyn B. Monroe, and
their children. Within three years, this family
regenerated the entire cut, over 455 acres, in
Loblolly pine seedlings. An overseer lives on
this tree farm, and it is looked after well.
Keeping the fire lanes clear around and
through this farm is one of the special priori-
ties. Submitted by John L. Monroe, M.D.

THE DARROCH FARM

The Alexander Darroch farm currently
owned by his great-grandson, George Rosser
Cameron, is located in Little River Township
near the community of Mount Pleasant in
Moore County.

Alexander Darroch and his wife, Jeannette
Shaw Darroch, lived in Ardfarnel on the
Island of Jura in Argyllshire, Scotland. In
1 847 Alexander and Jeannette Shaw Darroch
and their five children, Angus, Daniel, Mary
Jeanette and Nancy, sailed for North Caroli-
na.

There were a number of friends and family
members already living in the Upper Cape
Fear region when the Alexander Darroch
family arrived. Two months after the family
arrived, they bought the farm on the waters of
Turkey Creek from James Reeves and his
wife. Whether a house was on the "planta-
tion" or not is not certain. Certainly, the fami-
ly would have been looking for a house. They
had probably stayed the previous two months
with family and friends. However, a house
could easily have been built of logs.

It is interesting to note that the Alexander
Darroch family, through thrift and industry,
was not only able to pay their passage to Caro-
lina, but was also able to purchase a farm soon
after their arrival. The family cleared fields
and through hard work, supplied most of their
needs; such had been their habit and such was
the case of most small farmers of the sandhil-
ls.

The two sons, Argus and Daniel, also found
additional work on the large plantation of
Colonel Alexander Murchison. When the
Civil War broke out, both Angus and Daniel
volunteered in a company organized by Colo-
nel Murchison. Both brothers survived the
war, though Angus was captured, released
and then later shot through the thigh at the
Battle of White Oak Tavern.

Death first broke the family circle in 1868
with the death of the youngest child, Nancy.
Jeannette, the mother died and the father,
Alexander, died by 1878. Alexander willed
his plantation to his son, Daniel. The other
children had already established homes and
families.

Daniel and his wife, Narsissa Cameron
Darroch, continued to live on the farm for the
rest of his life. Daniel Darroch died in 1907,
and his farm went to his two children, Angus
Darroch and Ida Darroch.

The property was sold at public auction in
1929 and was purchased by John Gilbert
Cameron and his wife, Effie Darroch Camer-
on. Effie Darroch Cameron was the first cou-
sin of Angus and Ida Darroch. She was the
daughter of Angus Darroch, brother of Dan-
iel, and the granddaughter of Alexander and
Jeannette Shaw Darroch. Effie Darroch Cam-
eron died in 1 932. Her husband, John Gilbert
Cameron, then conveyed the property to his
son, George Rosser Cameron, and to his son's
wife, Ruth Smith Cameron in 1961.

For 140 years the Alexander Darroch farm
has remained in the family. The Alexander
Darroch house was burned in the early 1 920s,
but the scarred oaks and sycamore trees that
surrounded the house still prove the location
of the house.

Submitted by Dennis W. "Bud" Cameron

THE GARNER FARM

The 1 1 7 century old Adam Garner farm is
now owned by Myrtle Garner Hussey and
Helen Garner Scott. It is located in the upper
Moore County Sheffield Township in the
Smyrna United Methodist Church Commu-
nity.

It was purchased by Adam Garner, the
grandfather of Helen and Myrtle, from his
brother Eli and wife Sara Elizabeth Garner,
on December 29, 1871. It consisted of 200
acres approximately. Most of the wooded
area was contained within a split rail fence, no
longer existing. The fence served as an enclo-
sure for the cows, sheep and geese.

Adam and his wife, Sarah Ann Moore,
farmed the open fields growing grains and
vegetables to feed their family and animals.

The two-story house located on the proper-
ty still stands albeit repaired. A smokehouse
was constructed for the purpose of smoking
and curing meats. The grainery served as a
storage bin for the grains and corn grown on
the premises. Being a carpenter and having a
taste for building things, Adam constructed
several outbuildings, including a workshop.
Both the grainery and workshop were made
from hand-hewn logs which still remain intact
today. The interior of the house is sealed with
wide, hand-dressed pine boards of 18 inches
or more width.

Adam and his wife, Sarah, lived on this
farm and were the parents of eight children
(four boys and four girls, including twin girls).
After Adam's death in December 1911, the I
estate was divided between the eight children,
some later selling their shares to a sibling. The
wife, Sarah, dowered on three shares of the
property until her death in 1932. The younger
son, Billy W. Garner, who married and
became the father of the aforementioned |
present day owners, lived in the same house

158

with his mother to care for her. Heir to the
share his mother dowered on, Billy and his
wife, Louella, tended the land and lived on the
farm until his death in 1964; Louella died in
December of the same year. His share of the
estate was then divided into four shares going
to his daughters Myrtle Garner Hussey,
Emma Garner Cheek, Irene Garner Scott and
Helen Garner Scott. Emma and Irene later
sold their shares to Myrtle Garner Hussey.
Helen Garner Scott retained her ownership
and deed for the share that includes the house
and outlying buildings.

Myrtle and her husband, Gilbert Hussey,
farmed their share of the open land until
recently; declining health forced them to stop.
At present, she rents the land but still owns
and has a deed for her shares.

Owners of the Adam Garner and Billy W.
Garner farm since 1871 are Myrtle Garner
Hussey and Helen Garner Scott.

Submitted by Myrtle Garner Hussey and
Helen Garner Scott

THE HARRINGTON FARM

In 1870 my grandfather, Thomas Henry
Harrington, and his brother, Abner, bought
from the county 1200 acres of land in Deep
River Township for $1 per acre. Nine hun-
dred acres lay on the south side of McLendons
Creek and the remaining 300 on the opposite
bank. The 300 they sold. The remaining 900
were divided between the brothers. This land
was part of Alston property of Revolutionary
history owned by George Alston, granted to
him by the King of England.

Robert J. Hyman and wife, Lucile Harrington
Hyman with son, Robert. Jr. (Bobby) and daughter.
Alice Ann.

Thomas and Abner drove covered wagons
down the Plank Road to Fayetteville, hauling
government whiskey down and bringing sug-
ar back. Their salary was $ 1 00 per month.

Thomas Henry, known as Tom, married
Mary Jane Jackson, March 4, 1873. My
father, William Josiah, known as Will, was
their second often children. In February 1902
Will married Blanche Davis and they had
four children: William (June), Eugene Jack-
son (Bill), Mary Ruth and Lucile.

I am Lucile, the only survivor of our imme-
diate family. In December 1948 I married
Robert J. Hyman and we have two children,
Alice Ann and Robert, Jr. (Bobby).

Moore

Soon after mother and daddy were married
they decided to move back and operate the
farm. After paying off a mortgage and buying
family shares, daddy set up a sizeable opera-
tion. With the help of dependable tenants he
raised grain and cotton. He had a herd of
Angus cows and was a breeder of registered
Berkshire hogs. In the winter months he oper-
ated sawmills giving his help year round
employment.

My children have inherited from my youn-
ger brother and sister their shares inherited
from our parents, making them the fourth
generation to live on the farm and third to live
in the home built in 1913 by our parents,
known as Harrington Acres.

Submitted by (Mrs.) Lucile Harrington Hyman

THE LAWHON FARM

Leonard Weston Lawhon (1805-1892)
purchased the original acreage in 1 836 and, at
one time in his life, owned 634 acres. Located
in Moore County, the farm was established on
Juniper Creek, seven miles west of Carthage,
the county seat. In addition to farming, this
homesteader was a carpenter and cabinet
maker. One of the original farm buildings,
constructed from hand-hewn timber with
pegs, still stands today (1987). One piece of
handmade furniture still exists, but some
recent discoveries were a single-log feed
trough and a wooden coffin.

William Henry Harrison Lawhon (1841-
1926) was next in the succession of owners.
This Civil War veteran, a Mason, a Baptist
preacher, and member of the North Carolina
State Legislature established a post office
(Lawhon Hill), a cotton gin and a school
house in the 1 860s. Tar and turpentine collec-
tion on the farm began during the years that
W.H.H. Lawhon owned and operated the
farm. In 1930 visual evidence still remained
of tar kilns and turpentine collection.

Henry Harrison Lawhon (1886-1969)
inherited the farm from his father upon his
death. He raised cotton, tobacco, sheep and,
at various times, ran a gristmill, a lathe mill,
and tobacco stick cutting operation. In his lat-
er years, he operated a sawmill and a small
planer.

Arthur Andrew Lawhon (1926-1981) the
next owner, produced grains and hay. He
grew tobacco and, at various times, raised cat-
tle, hogs, sheep and poultry. He constructed a
five acre pond for irrigation in the early
1970s.

Roberta Donaldson Lawhon, the widow of
Arthur A. Lawhon, presently owns the farm,
and their sons, Robert Leonard Lawhon and
Charles Arthur Lawhon operate it. Robert
and Charles grow several acres of produce,
specializing in tomatoes grown on plastic
with drip irrigation. Currently the farm con-
sists of 220 acres.

While the products of the farm have
changed significantly over the generations,
the spirit of the family farm lives on.

Submitted by Roberta Lawhon

THE MCMILLIAN-CAMERON
FARM

The McMillian-Cameron farm lies in
Moore County, southeast of Cameron, in Lit-
tle River Township where Beaver Creek and
Cranes Creek flow together.

The Alexander Turner and Louisa Bruce McMilli-
an-Cameron home located on the McMillian-
Cameron farm. This home was built in 1888.

The earliest records we have are of Daniel
McMillian owning the property from the ear-
ly 1800s. The property could have been
owned by the McMillians earlier, but it is not
known for sure. When Daniel McMillian
died, his daughter, Annie McMillian,
received the 128 acre tract which was to
become the McMillian/Cameron farm. Annie
McMillian died in the late 1860s leaving
numerous nieces and nephews.

Her niece, Louisa Bruce McMillian, daugh-
ter of Archibald McMillian, married Alexan-
der Turner Cameron in 1868 and moved onto
the Annie McMillian property. They lived
there until their deaths in 1923 and 1917
respectively. It would appear that Louisa
Bruce McMillian and her husband did not
have clear title to the property, though Louisa
had an interest as one of the heirs of Annie
McMillian.

In 1 883 James J. McMillian and Patrick J.
McMillian obtained a state grant for the prop-
erty. In 1 905 James J. and Patrick J. McMilli-
an made a deed to the five sons of Louisa
Bruce McMillian Cameron and her husband,
Alexander Turner Cameron, who had paid on
the property for years. Those five sons were
Neill A. Cameron, Robert S. Cameron, Dan-
iel Alexander Cameron, William Patrick
Cameron and John Gilbert Cameron. John
Gilbert Cameron bought the interest of his
brothers, Neill A., Daniel A. and Robert S.
Cameron. He then bought the interest of W.
Patrick Cameron from his heirs. John Gilbert
Cameron then deeded the McMillian-
Cameron farm to his son, George Rosser
Cameron, and his wife, Ruth Smith Camer-
on.

The farm supported most of the family
needs. However, Alexander T. Cameron was
also a cooper, a furniture and coffin maker.
Dewberries and cotton were raised for cash.
Corn and grain were raised for the livestock.
Cane was raised for syrup. The orchard pro-
vided fresh and dried fruit. Honey from bees,
fish from the creek and game from the woods
were readily available. In the 20th century,
tobacco, soybeans, beef and poultry were add-
ed to the farm's production.

Though we do not know exactly how far
back in time the McMillian's owned the land,

159

it is known that the farm has been in continu-
ous family ownership for over 1 80 years.

Submitted by Dennis H '. "Bud" Cameron

THE MONROE FARM

The century farm of Mr. and Mrs. Fred
Bethune Monroe on Mill Creek in northwest
Moore County, North Carolina came down to
Fred beginning with his grandparents,
Lauchlin Bethune Monroe and Sarah Catha-
rine Calhoun Monroe, who were married July
5, 1857. Sarah was then age 14 and Lauchlin
was 28. Lauchlin was an accomplished grist-
miller and an all-around mechanic. Sarah was
full of energy and was a very productive far-
mer. They had 1 3 children to live full lives.

Lauchlin Bethune Monroe and Sarah Catharine
Calhoun Monroe.

Lauchlin always kept a good gristmill
going. Also he was very busy in his shop and
elsewhere, as he was highly versatile. Sarah
saw to it that the home and farm were busy
places. Together they made a good living, and
both were active in their community.

Lauchlin sawed lumber with water power
for the farm needs, including gratis coffins for
neighbor families when death came. Sarah
would keep the lining cloth on hand and
would do that part. They enjoyed helping peo-
ple around them and they were called upon
freely. The 13 children naturally shared in all
these chores, and they learned much from
their parents.

Patronage came from far and near to
Lauchlin's shop where nearly everything
could be made or repaired. Wagons and bug-
gies were done; hides were tanned and shoes
were made; horses were shod; welding was
done; cabinets were made. These are only a
part of the services of the shop.

Lauchlin died in 1907. A dower (land and
home) was set apart for Sarah, and the rest of
the land was divided among his heirs.

Sarah died in 1 924 and her dower went to
her many heirs. Her son, John Archibald
Monroe, bought the dower in 1929 from the
other heirs. He maintained it as timberland.
Some years later John A. gave the land to his
sons, Dr. Clement R. Monroe and Fred B.
Monroe. They kept it as a timber farm, and
later Clement gave his part to Fred.

Submitted by Fred B. Monroe

THE POLEY FARM

Yes, you can go home again! I did just that
in February 1 946 when I moved back to our
family farm after a career as a registered nurse

Moore

\
I

The Poley house today. The back gable was original-
ly built in 1885.

at Forsyth Hospital in Winston-Salem. My
husband, Bill Poley, and I had come home to
care for my ailing parents; and Bill to try his
hand at farming the land. We grew corn,
wheat, potatoes and tobacco. Always, there
was the big vegetable garden.

We are deep in the sandhills. The land of
the long leaf pine describes our area. We have
in our possession the deed signed January 4,
1842 transferring acreage to my grandfather,
William Barret Frye, from his grandfather,
William Barret. In 1896 my father, William
Haywood Frye, was deeded 10 acres of this
land from his father, William Barret Frye. My
father continued to add acreage. We now have
206 acres.

The house I live in today started out as the
two room home for my father and mother,
William Haywood and Ava Frances Davis
Frye. There were many additions to the house
as we 12 children arrived. The room, known
then as the "birthing room" where we 1 2 first
saw the light of day, is now my dining room.

During the early 1 900s we grew grain, cot-
ton, corn and a big garden, apple and peach
orchards to help supply our needs. The long
leaf pines were tapped and the sap was dis-
tilled into turpentine. Papa would be so black
after a day's work at the turpentine still.

Papa also operated a gristmill on the end of
our property. The water in the pond at the
mill was supplied by "Betties Branch" that
flowed through our property. With 12 chil-
dren to feed and clothe, there had to be versa-
tility during the cane season, Papa and my
brother Paul would take our mule and cane
mill into upper Moore County to crush cane
and make molasses for the people there. A
percentage of the finished molasses was
Papa's pay.

All we children worked the fields. It was
hard work, but we had fun too. We later added
sweet potatoes and peanuts to our farmland.
We were one of the first farms in Moore
County to start raising tobacco. We have now
sold the tobacco allotment off our farm. We
continue to grow some grain as cover crop,
our vegetable garden and many flowers to
share with our neighbors.

The oldest school building in Moore Coun-
ty is on our farm. Grandpa Fry built it in
1850. My papa, his brothers and sisters got
their education here. My 1 1 brothers, sisters
and I also attended this school, "Holy Grove"
through 7th grade. He deeded this acre to
Moore County. When the school closed in
1 920, Moore County deeded the building and
acre back to papa. The building still stands
today, though in poor condition. Out the
front yard from the school, in the tall pines, is
the Frye family cemetery. Huldah Warner

Frye, wife of William Barrett Frye, born 1 832,
died 1873, is the oldest marked grave there.
We assume some of the unmarked graves are
those of slaves who helped farm the land
around 1850. My mama and papa rest there
too, as do some of my sisters and a brother
who died in the first war.

Four of us 12 survive at this time. I, a
retired registered nurse; Jenny, a retired
teacher lives in Bath; Flora, a retired teacher
lives in Lillington; and our brother, Fred, a
retired painter, lives on his farm next to the
homeplace.

I did come home again. Memories of the
past are in each room of our farmhouse and I
love each one. Submitted by Walter Frye Poley

THE PRIEST FARM

John and Duncan Priest immigrated from
Scotland during the American Revolution
and settled in an area between James Creek
and the Moore County line that reached from
Manly to Little River Township.

In the early days the farming consisted of
the growing of wheat, rye, oats, corn and some
rice. The livestock consisted of hogs, cattle,
sheep and horses. In addition to farming
crops and raising cattle, turpentine, forestry
for lumber, a sawmill, a small town called
Inverness with a post office, a church named
McCrimmons Chapel, and a school for the
children from adjoining farms was main-
tained on the property.

Early in the 1800s due to changing econo-
my and progressive growth, sheep and hogs
were increased in large numbers. During the
Civil War, my great uncle whom I can remem-
ber very well, told me stories about the war
that happened on this land. I have passed the
stories to my children; I shall never forget the
stories. His house was built to store grain
between the floors, and there were gun ports
in the walls and doors.

In or around 1 900 the farm was still in oper-
ation as a sheep and cattle farm with corn,
oats and wheat being grown. About 1963 the
farm became known as Circle P Farm with
horses, a commercial head of Black Angus,
goats and sheep. Coastal bermuda pasture,
corn and millet were grown as feed.

In 1976 a switch was made to registered
Brahman cattle and quarter horses with coast-
al bermuda and lespedeza pastures. Corn and
rye as supplemental winter grazing were
grown. This same operation is still in effect.
Also on the farm, we have two small ponds
that are stocked with pan and catfish.

Until recently, my family really had the
area to ourselves with only a few houses
around, but now the countryside is develop-
ing rapidly with new families moving in often.

Submitted by Charles G. Priest

THE RAY FARM

Archibald Ray (born 1 770), son of Scottish
immigrant, John Ray, received grants of land
in 1790 and 1797 in McNeill's Township,
Moore County, amounting to approximately
600 acres of land. He cleared two fields from
the pine and oak woods and farmed them
(small grain, cane, cotton and kitchen garden)

160

Moore— Nash

as well as raising sheep, cattle, and pigs. He
died in 1818, leaving a wife and four daugh-
ters.

Moore County was the center of the High-
land Scottish settlement of the Upper Cape
Fear Valley and so his four daughters all mar-
ried sons of other Scottish settlers. The Ray
plantation was divided between the four
daughters' families in 1 832. The great stabili-
ty of this area is demonstrated in the fact that
most of the original land still remains within
the direct descendants of these four daughters
(i.e. in 1988, nearly 200 years later).

The one fourth of this property which
passed to my ancestors (Elizabeth Ray,
daughter of Archibald Ray and her husband,
John McMillan Blue) was farmed by them
(she died in childbirth in 1 843 and he in 1 863)
and then passed on to Patrick Blue, my great-
grandfather, who, along with his eight chil-
dren, farmed it until his death in 1904. Until
after Patrick's death, cotton (and naval
stores) were the main cash crops, and sheep,
cattle, pigs and chicken, ducks and geese were
still raised, as well as nearly all food items
except coffee, sugar and salt.

After 1904, my grandparents' generation
began raising tobacco and also built a cotton
gin and gristmill (oil powered), which they
operated until the 1 930s. By the 1 950s, cotton
was phased out, and since then tobacco (as
well as timber) has been the main cash crop.
The raising of sheep was abandoned in the
1920s and cattle and pigs were abandoned in
the 1960s.

After the death of my grandparents' genera-
tion by the 1970s and early 80s, part of the
land passed to the descendants of Patrick
Blue's daughter, Maude (Mrs. W.C. Hendren)
and to those of Patrick's daughter, Margaret
(Mrs. Angus R. Kelly). The latter was my
grandmother.

The present writer spent every summer
from age five until he finished the University
of North Carolina, working on the old family
farm especially in cotton and tobacco. Pres-
ently, he and his family divide their time (as
Professor of Theology) between Scotland and
the USA. They maintain their part of the fam-
ily land, see that it is looked after, and return
as frequently as possible to what will eventu-
ally be their long-term home.

Submitted by Douglas Floyd Kelly

THE SHAW FARM

The old deed was made on the 14th of
March 1 857 to Neill W. Shaw by Norman Fer-
genson for 100 acres. Neill W. Shaw left the
farm to his son, Angus McNeill Shaw. James
W. Shaw, son of Angus McNeill Shaw, is now

Mrs. Angus McNeill Shaw, mother of James W.
Shaw.

the owner of the farm. We have a daughter,
Betty Lou Shaw McKay. Betty Lou and her
husband, James L. McKay, and daughter,
Teresa, also live on the farm. They have
another daughter, Denice Lawrence, and hus-
band, David Lawrence, and son, Christopher,
who live in Norfolk, Virginia.

There was a grape vineyard on the farm at
one time. Also dewberries, cotton, corn,
wheat, oats, rye and tobacco were grown.

We have two tobacco barns, pack house
with basement, tool shed and a barn that was
destroyed by lightning in 1988. At one time,
we had a corn crib and a chicken house. 1 still
have a grove of old mulberry trees, a few apple
trees, pear trees, grapes and blueberries.

The old house is still standing. The main
part of the house is made of logs. Two rooms
and a porch were added next, with heart-pine
boards covering the logs. There are seven
rooms, two porches and lightning rods on the
house.

Submitted by Mr. and Mrs. James W. Shaw

THE SMITH FARM

In 1 747 Robin Smith of Argyllshire, Scot-
land, arrived in North Carolina carrying from
the King of England a land grant to property
located in what is now known as the Lobelia
section of Little River Township in Moore
County. Seven generations later the "old
homeplace," consisting of now approximate-
ly 100 acres, is still in the Smith family. For
the first six generations the land was passed
down from father to son — from Robin to
John to Robert to Alex to John William to
John Alex. In 1981 the last Smith to occupy
the old home, John Alex Smith, died. He was
a bachelor. Among the names now on the
deed to the property is that of a nephew,
another John Smith.

The Smith farm, Vass, N.C.

The Smith home, the third to be built on the
farm, was constructed of longleaf heart pine
in 1 856 by Robert Smith and his sons. There
were 1 1 children — all boys — three of whom
died in the Civil War. Originally the kitchen
and dining room were located several yards
from the main house. In 1921 these two
rooms were attached to the main structure. In
the 1970s the kitchen, dining room and
screened porch were removed and a more
modern kitchen and dining room/family
room combination with a deck were added.
There are seven additional rooms on the main
floor, one bath and two large rooms upstairs.
Two of the main floor rooms were built at
each end of the front porch with no access to

the rest of the house so that any passersby who
was overtaken by darkness or bad weather
could be offered shelter with no threat of
harm to the Smith family. Later, an interior
door was cut into one of these rooms and it
was used as the Lobelia post office for several
years.

Through the years, various crops have been
raised on the farm — cotton, dewberries,
corn, soybeans, small grain, tobacco, etc. In
earlier days, syrup was made from home-
grown sugar cane, honey was "robbed" from
beehives, and corn was ground into meal at
the mill located on the farm pond. Chickens
hogs and cows provided additional food. This
farm provided a living for many generations.
Although no Smith lives on the farm at the
present time, there are many "kinfolk" scat-
tered throughout North Carolina and the
south who have fond memories of the "old
homeplace." Submitted by Lois Smith Goewey

THE WADSWORTH FARM

In the early 1800s there were seven Wads-
worth brothers who came to the United States
from England; some went west and north, and
others settled in the northern part of Moore
County.

The original Wadsworth house and farm
was owned by Hiram Wadsworth in the early
1800s. The dwelling was a one-room living
quarter built with logs which were held
together with wooden pegs. The kitchen was
built approximately 100 feet from the living
quarters for fire safety reasons. When the Civ-
il War started, Hiram locked up the house and
fought for his beliefs. After the war, he
returned home and lived out the last years of
his life. Hiram never married and he willed
the farm to his nephew, W.J. Wadsworth, and
his wife, Mollie Cole Wadsworth. W.J. and
Mollie lived and raised 12 children here,
farming cotton as their main source of
income.

In the early 1930s this house served the
community as a post office known as Jessup,
North Carolina. W.J. Wadsworth served as
postmaster. The post office was dissolved in
the mid- 1930s. They added onto the original
house several rooms and took down the old
kitchen. When W.J. Wadsworth died, the
farm owners were Glenn and Brantley Wads-
worth. Glenn married Annie Leslie and lived
in the home. They raised eight children, grow-
ing cotton, corn and tobacco.

The present owner of the farm is R.G. Wad-
sworth, Jr., son of Glenn and Annie Wads-
worth. He lives in the original house which
has been remodeled several times; the origi-
nal logs and pole rafters pegged together are
still visible in places. R.G. grows tobacco and
raises cattle. Submitted by R.G. Wadsworth, Jr.

Nash County

THE BONE FARM

At the end of the Revolutionary War in
1 776, three Bone brothers were discharged at
Harpers Ferry, Virginia. The brothers togeth-
er migrated westward. One of the brothers
who was only 1 7, John Jack Bone, decided to
turn back southward returning through parts
of Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina.

Shortly after the formation of Nash Coun-
ty, John Jack Bone and companion, Nettie

161

Nash

The original John Bone home, built circa 1840.

Ballard, and wife took up parcels of land in
the said county in 1 780. These holdings were
situated on the south side of Sap